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Board emphasizes tougher audits and a midyear NOFA to curb ‘first‑come, first‑served’ grant requests
Summary
Mental Health Board staff described a new midyear allocation process and more focused audit/compliance practices to ensure equitable funding and measurable outcomes; members discussed challenges standardizing outcome metrics across service types.
Board staff told the committee they revised the grant process to avoid an ongoing rush of unplanned midyear requests and to make allocations more equitable across applicants.
"We put out two NOFAs — the annual and the opioid — and we implemented a midyear allocation process so everyone is evaluated at the same time," the board president said. Staff explained that applicants submit monthly affidavits, fee‑for‑service billings or program outcomes and that new agencies receive at least one audit, with additional audits if problems arise.
Committee members pressed staff about how outcomes are measured across differing service pillars. Staff and members agreed that measuring 'improvement' in substance‑use treatment differs from measuring 'maintenance' in IDD services, which has produced year‑to‑year fluctuations in reported measurable outcomes. The board said it is revising rubrics and intends to provide clearer reporting templates to reduce subjectivity and improve comparability across programs.
