SAMPLE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: WISCONSIN STATE ZERO SUICIDE ACADEMY
A. Background
Mental Health America of Wisconsin (MHA), with support of a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services/Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, is inviting applications from eligible entities to participate in the WI State Zero Suicide Academy. Zero Suicide is a quality improvement initiative that includes both a cultural shift in addressing suicide prevention within organizations and a set of best practices. Zero Suicide seeks to use clinical and cultural forces to shift the healthcare system’s focus from “if we can save just one life, it will be worth it” to a much bolder vision: a goal of zero suicides within “boundaried populations”; healthcare plans or care organizations serving a defined population of consumers such as behavioral health programs, integrated delivery systems and comprehensive primary care programs. This approach arose out of the experiences of a number of organizations that had achieved significant reductions in suicides by implementing systemic suicide prevention practices. These experiences were a key focus of a report by the National Action Alliance on Suicide Prevention’s (Action Alliance) Clinical Care and Intervention Task Force: Suicide Care in Systems Framework: http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/sites/actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/files/taskforc es/ClinicalCareInterventionReport.pdf
This Academy is designed to assist health and behavioral health plans and organizations in developing and implementing a Zero Suicide approach. Essential dimensions of the Zero Suicide model include:
1. Creating a leadership driven, safety-oriented culture that commits to dramatically reducing suicide among people under their care that includes suicide attempt and loss survivors as part of their leadership and planning.
2. Systematically identifying and assessing suicide risk level among people at risk.
3. Ensuring every person has a pathway to care that is both timely and adequate to meet their needs.
4. Developing a competent, confident and caring workforce.
5. Using effective, evidence-based care including collaborative safety planning, promoting suicide safe environments, and effective treatment of suicidality.
6. Continuing contact and support, especially after acute care.
7. Applying a data-driven quality improvement approach to inform system changes that will lead to improved patient outcomes and better care for those at risk.
The website www.zerosuicide.com is a repository of “zero suicide” tools and techniques.
This effort builds on work that MHA has done over the past two years creating learning communities around Perfect Depression Care (PDC), a program developed by Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) that was one of the programs featured in the Clinical Care and Intervention Task Force Report noted above. MHA sent teams of individuals from 5 organizations each year to HFHS to learn about their model. MHA also arranged for Dr. Ed Coffey, then CEO of Behavioral Health Services at HFHS, to provide ongoing consultation to the learning community members. Comments from the participants in the 2013 learning community include:
· “This was among the best trainings that I have attended in my career.”
· “Participation in the learning community prompted North Central Health Care to reconsider our approach to suicide screening and assessment and develop a standard process to ensure screening and assessment occurred throughout the organization.”
· “Our perception of what is an acceptable rate of suicide has changed. A zero suicide rate is the ONLY acceptable rate.”
B. Wisconsin State Zero Suicide Academy Description
MHA is offering a two-day WI State Zero Suicide Academy for organizations interested in developing and implementing a Zero Suicide approach. The Wisconsin academy is modeled after the National Zero Suicide Academy that was sponsored by the Action Alliance. National expert faculty members who have been part of the initiative from its inception have partnered with MHA in delivering the Academy using the zero suicide toolkit as the framework.
The Academy will provide interactive workshops, presentations, and small group sessions that will address all of the dimensions identified above. The objectives of the WI State Zero Suicide Academy are to:
· Provide organizations interested in adopting a Zero Suicide approach with the skills and information necessary to launch their effort;
· Create collaborative links between the organizations launching these initiatives in order to provide mentorship and support so that the perspectives, knowledge, and skills of each inform the work of the others; and
· Develop implementation plans for the Zero Suicide initiatives at each participating organization.
The Academy will run from approximately 9am -5pm during a two-day programming.
C. Eligibility and Expectations
Eligible Organizations: Eligible organizations are health care or behavioral health organizations that are ready to adopt and implement a Zero Suicide approach. A wide variety of organization types have participated in our PDC initiative and are welcome to apply:
· Health maintenance organizations
· Hospitals or hospital systems
· Behavioral health clinics
· Other outpatient mental health programs, such as community support programs
· Federally qualified health centers
· Veterans Administration hospitals or clinics or WI Department of Veterans Affairs facilities
· Campus counseling centers
Applicants/participants must come with teams of 3-4 individuals. At least one of the individuals must be a senior level administrative staff person who is positioned to engage in action planning during the Academy that will have a strong likelihood of being endorsed by the organization. At least one of the individuals must be a senior clinical manager who can represent the current knowledge and skills of the clinical staff and engage in action planning about changes to clinical practices and training. Organizations are encouraged to consider including individuals with lived experience of suicidal ideation or behavior who can provide insight into the impact of organizational practices on those seeking care.
Applicants must be willing to be part of an ongoing learning community. This learning community is expected to meet quarterly by teleconference. These calls will be an opportunity to discuss implementation of your action plans, obtain consultation, and receive additional didactic presentations driven by the interests of the group. Applicants are expected to utilize the action plans developed at the Academy to begin implementation of Zero Suicide practices within their organization.
Evaluation: Organizations that are accepted to the Academy must complete a Zero Suicide organizational assessment prior to the start of the Academy. A copy of this can be found at: www.preventsuicidewi.org
Organizations will be expected to resubmit the organizational assessment at six-month and one-year intervals after the Academy as a way to measure change within the organization. If the organization collects data on suicide and self-injury, submission of data over time would be appreciated.
Participation in Future Educational/Training Events. Participating organizations may be invited to “pay it forward” by sharing their experiences at future Academies, conference presentations or other types of educational events. Reimbursements for travel costs and/or stipends may be available depending upon the event.
D. Timeline and Submission Process
Application released ______
Applicant Teleconference ______(two weeks later on average)
Letters of Intent Requested ______(three days later on average)
Application due ______(three weeks later on average)
Applicants notified of their status On or about ______(two weeks later on average)
Wisconsin State Zero Suicide Academy conducted ______(one month later on average0
MHA staffs will provide an updated overview of the WSZSA, review the application and expectations and respond to questions.
Letter of Intent: A letter of intent to apply is respectfully requested. The letters of intent are a courtesy to MHA to allow MHA to anticipate the number of proposals we will receive and ensure we have adequate reviewers. Proposers should submit the letter of intent found in Attachment 3 of this Call for Applications (CFA) or provide the same information to Shel Gross (contact information below) if you intend to apply. The letter of intent may be sent via fax, snail mail or email.
Those individuals who notify us of intent to apply will receive any updates or clarifications about the CFA via email. Submitting a notice of intent indicates your likelihood of submitting a proposal but does not obligate you to submit a proposal.
Application Due Date: Applications are due by close of business on deadline date in order to receive primary consideration. Proposals that are sent by USPS, private carrier or hand delivered must be received at the office address listed below by 4pm. Proposals may be submitted by email; if so, they must be received at the email address listed below by 4pm.
Applications received after 4pm on deadline date will be considered for inclusion in the Academy if insufficient acceptable applications were received for primary consideration.
Cost: A fee of $100 per person participating in the Academy will be payable upon notification of acceptance. This will cover meals and materials, including those provided as part of the conference on April 29th. This is also inclusive of conference registration.
Location: To be determined per Academy session..
For questions and to submit your application:
Shel Gross, Director of Public Policy Mental Health America of Wisconsin 133 S. Butler St., Rm. LL30; Madison, WI 53703 Email: Phone: 608-250-4368
E. Selection Criteria:
A Review Committee will rate applications based on their merit in responding to this application. Where applications have comparable merit MHA reserves the right to take geographical and organizational diversity into consideration in making final selections.
· The organization identifies a strong team to participate in the project and there is a clear organizational commitment to undertake the project. (25 points)
· The organization demonstrates its commitment to involving communities and persons with lived experience in decision-making about the project. (10 points)
· The team has clear and reasonable goals for the Academy. The organization has the capacity to implement the Zero Suicide model. The organization agrees to comply with all expectations outlined in Sec. C of the application, if selected. (25 points)
· The applicant demonstrates an understanding of the impact of suicide on the population they serve. The applicant demonstrates that it has undertaken appropriate and evidence-based efforts to address suicide in their organization. (20 points)
· The organization has demonstrated the capacity to undertake the sort of organizational change required for this project. (20 points)
Attachment 1
Application Narrative
Please respond to each of the following points. While there is not a hard page limit, applications are expected to be in the range of 3-5 pages total, single-spaced, plus attachments, where noted.
1. Who within your organization would have primary responsibility for implementation of this systems change? Describe their role and authority to direct this project and provide a resume or CV. Provide evidence, through a letter from your CEO or medical director, that this project has high level support within your organization.
2. Provide the names, titles, addresses, and contact information of all team members. Identify the relevant skills, knowledge, career goals, and experience they bring to the project; why this team? Provide a resume, CV or biosketch for each. Please indicate who the lead is for the application as the person who will receive all correspondence.
3. How does your organization involve people with lived experience in program development? How will you do so for this project?
4. Provide a description of your organization; e.g. are you applying as a health system, a behavioral health clinic, an FQHC; how many lives do you cover/individuals do you serve on a yearly basis; will you be piloting this in one part of your organization or multiple areas?
5. What are your team’s goals for participating in the Zero Suicide Academy and what does the team hope to address during the training? Affirm that your organization has the capacity to implement the Zero Suicide model (e.g. ability to undertake a quality improvement initiative, ability to implement comprehensive screening of program participants, ability to assure training for clinical staff, administrative systems that support continuity of care). Also affirm that you would be able to fulfill all the participant expectations.
6. Do you currently track data on suicides or suicidal behavior among the population you serve? If so, provide data on numbers and rates of these behaviors over the past three years. If not, provide information about suicide rates in your broader community. What do you know about the demographics of those who have died by suicide, either within your organization or the broader community (age, gender, ethnicity, and other characteristics of the population)?
7. What have you done within your organization to date to reduce suicide among your clients? What have the results been?
8. Provide an example of another type of systems change that is comparable to this project that you have attempted within your organization. What did you accomplish? What did you learn from that process that informs your participation in this project?
Attachment 2
Faculty Bios
To be provided depending on Academy dates
Attachment 3
Letter of Intent to Apply:
Applying Organization(s): ______
Contact Person(s): ______
Mailing Address: ______
City, State, Zip______
Daytime Phone: ______
Email: ______
Please submit this letter of intent to apply to:
Shel Gross
Mental Health America of WI
133 S. Butler St., Rm. LL30
Madison, WI 53703
Fax: 608-442-7907
Email:
THIS IS A SAMPLE APPLICATION. ACTUAL APPLICATION REQUESTS MAY VARY