Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) Service Grant

The North Dakota Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) Service Grant is a strategic initiative spearheaded by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS), Behavioral Health Division, with funding support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This three-year grant, part of a broader HRSA sustainability effort, is specifically aimed at enhancing access to high-quality mental health services for children and adolescents throughout North Dakota by integrating behavioral health support into pediatric primary care settings. The integration is primarily facilitated through telehealth, enabling timely detection, assessment, and intervention for behavioral health needs using evidence-based practices. This particular Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announces a state-level competitive grant program, backed by a total available funding pool of $700,000. The NDHHS intends to award multiple grants to qualifying organizations for the project period spanning May 1, 2026, through September 29, 2026. The overarching goal is to increase capacity across healthcare and community organizations to deliver accessible, telebehavioral mental health services tailored to the unique needs of children, youth, and families—especially those residing in underserved and rural areas. The funding aims to support system coordination, workforce training, and collaborative practices that ensure sustainable improvements in early identification and care. Eligible applicants must be located in or expanding services into North Dakota and can include non-profit organizations, family-led groups, private behavioral health providers, healthcare organizations, tribal entities, public or private schools, and other child-serving community-based organizations. All applicants must serve children and young adults (birth through age 21) at risk for or living with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), and demonstrate alignment with the goals of the PMHCA program. This includes expanding telehealth access, supporting pediatric care providers with diagnosis and referral tools, and enhancing care coordination systems. To apply, applicants must submit a formal application via email to [email protected] no later than April 2, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Central Time. There is no template provided by the state, but applications are expected to include key content areas such as project description, implementation timeline, work plan, staffing and infrastructure, evaluation metrics, and sustainability strategy. A detailed line-item budget with justifications must also accompany each application. Applicants must also include a signed and dated cover sheet. Applications that contain proprietary or confidential content must indicate such within the submission. The review process will be conducted by an evaluation panel using a standardized evaluation tool. Applications may be fully or partially awarded, or declined altogether, depending on their merit and alignment with program goals. Award announcements are expected by April 24, 2026. All awarded applicants are required to register as vendors with the North Dakota Secretary of State prior to contract finalization. The funding contract will run from May 1 through September 29, 2026, after which grantees are expected to sustain their initiatives independently or with alternate funding. This grant program represents a critical investment in improving behavioral health infrastructure and workforce capability for pediatric populations in North Dakota. By reinforcing primary care with behavioral health expertise through telehealth and collaborative care models, the PMHCA Service Grant sets a foundation for scalable, sustainable, and equitable behavioral health access statewide.