The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) is issuing a "Request for Information" (RFI) to identify and select locations for a proposed Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) pilot program that aims to serve underserved regions in Colorado. The RFI is posted below, along with a one-page summary of the pilot program, and a background document with detailed information. The pilot program is one of the three projects OSBP selected for prioritized implementation and included in its January 2nd budget request (information regarding the Call for Innovation and the January 2nd budget request can be found below).

The RFI includes seven questions OSPB requests local applicants wishing to participate in the MST pilot program to complete. The RFI has been designed to be as streamlined and “user-friendly” as possible. The primary goal of this process is to assess Colorado communities’ level of interest, needs, and capabilities for participating in the pilot program.

Responses to this RFI will allow OSPB, in coordination with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), to select communities and regions of the state that could feasibly participate. The deadline to submit applications is Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

The Office of State Planning and Budgeting has submitted a budget proposal to the legislature, as a 2018 budget amendment, to fund three pilot projects selected through the Call for Innovation that can utilize a Pay for Success financing model. Information on the Pay For Success Initiative, the projects, and the budget proposal can be found below.

The Colorado Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting received 61 proposals through the 2017 Call for Innovation, all aimed at improving measurable outcomes for young Coloradans involved or at high risk of involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting, in close coordination with the Colorado Department of Human Services and other state agencies and subject-matter experts, led a multi-step review of these proposals. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting identified three of the strongest and most feasible projects for prioritized funding and implementation. Posted below is a one page summary of these projects and a document that describes these projects in detail. The latter document also lists several additional proposals that could move toward implementation in the next budgetary cycle after further refinement and targeted opportunities for collaboration outside the official Call for Innovation process.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal. We received many great ideas through this process.

The Office of State Planning and Budgeting seeks submissions from nonprofits and service providers, and from Colorado local governments (including counties, school districts, judicial districts and other local entities).

Any interested stakeholder is welcome to submit a proposal. Joint applications are welcome.

The Call For Innovation is a state funding opportunity to make a positive measurable difference in the lives of Colorado youth and their families who might benefit from extra help and innovative services.

We hope this process will be a catalyst for collaboration and innovation. Your good ideas, your creative energy, and your deep knowledge of this population can make a difference for Colorado. Participating in the Call For Innovation will lead to conversations across the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

While funds will not be awarded immediately through this process, submitting a thoughtful proposal and a high-quality intervention or innovative approach to the challenges identified in this Call For Innovation could help position your organization or local jurisdiction to receive state funds through a state Pay for Success project, a pilot project, or through Office of State Planning and Budgeting’s next budgetary cycle. (You can find more background information about Pay for Success in the attachments below, or in the Pay for Success tab above).

Unlike many federal grants and Request For Proposal applications, the Office of State Planning and Budgeting has attempted to make this application straight-forward and non-bureaucratic, with low barriers to entry for anyone with a good idea.

Please take a few minutes to fill out a short survey on your current interest in participating in the Call For Innovation and your current intended focus, available here. By the week of February 13th, we will connect respondents who indicate an interest in being connected with others working in the same counties and/or on similar subjects, facilitating possible joint applications.

To complete a Call For Innovation submission, please provide detailed responses to the brief questions in the “Call for Innovation Application” attachment, which you can download below.

Additional attachments, “Call for Innovation Background” and “Call for Innovation Summary,” provide further details about this project. You can download both of those below as well, along with a cover letter from Governor Hickenlooper.

Please email final submissions to Gov_ospb@state.co.us by 6 PM on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Please cc roger.low@state.co.us, and use the exact subject line “Call for Innovation Final Submission”.

The complete Call For Innovation timeline is posted below. Please be sure to check this site regularly for the most up-to-date information.

If possible, please email a notice of intent to apply to Gov_ospb@state.co.us by Tuesday, February 21, 2017. Please cc roger.low@state.co.us, use the exact subject line “Call for Innovation Intent to Apply”, and include a brief one paragraph overview of your intended focus. A notice of intent is appreciated but not required, and your focus can evolve prior to final submission.

A brief overview of Pay for Success, the Pay for Success feasibility project that led to the launch of this Call For Innovation, and the two key Colorado youth target populations of focus for this Call For Innovation can be found here.

Additional details on these youth target populations are also in the “Call For Innovation Background” attachment below.

January 31, 2017 at 9:30 AM MST: Call For Innovation Kickoff Convening and Questions & Answers at the History Colorado Center, at 1200 Broadway in Denver, in the Colorado Room on the 1st floor.

February 8, 2017 at 4 PM MST in Durango: Call For Innovation information session at the County Administration Building in the Training Room, at 1101 East 2nd Avenue.

February 9, 2017 at 3 PM MST in Pueblo: Call For Innovation information session at the Pueblo Combined Court in Judge Eyler's conference room, at 501 N. Elizabeth Street.

February 14, 2017 at 10 AM MST: Call For Innovation Statewide Questions & Answers Conference Call. Dial-in (408) 520-2444, Pass Code: 463331. (Please note that this was updated on February 13, 2017.)

February 14, 2017 at 2:30 PM MST in Colorado Springs: Call For Innovation information session at the El Paso County Citizen’s Service Center in Room 1020, at 1675 West Garden of the Gods Road.

February 21, 2017: Submit "Call For Innovation Intent to Apply” statement (encouraged, not required).

February 28, 2017 at 2PM MST in Grand Junction: Call For Innovation information session at Hilltop Office in the Conference Room, at 1331 Hermosa Avenue.

March 1, 2017 at 10:30 AM MST in Greeley: Call For Innovation information session at the United Way of Weld County, at 814 9th Street.

March 1, 2017 at 3 PM MST in Fort Collins: Call For Innovation information session at the City of Fort Collins Utilities Building on the 2nd Floor (please check-in with the virtual assistant in the lobby), at 222 Laporte Avenue.

March 21, 2017 no later than 6 PM MST: Deadline to submit Call For Innovation application.

May - June, 2017: Office of State Planning and Budgeting plans to release a list of candidates.