** PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE TIME-SENSITIVE NATURE OF THIS PROJECT THE RFP TIMELINE IS BEING EXPEDIATED ** PURPOSE The County of Riverside Purchasing and Fleet Services, on behalf of Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health (RUHS-BH), is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide media, marketing, outreach, public awareness, and community engagement services in support of behavioral health initiatives throughout Riverside County. This Request for Proposals (RFP) is intended to establish a Qualified Vendor Pool of experienced media and outreach providers that may be utilized for current and future County-approved behavioral health campaigns and projects. Services may include, but are not limited to, strategic communications planning, public awareness campaigns, content development, media production, digital marketing, advertising, community outreach, stakeholder engagement, multilingual communications, and campaign performance evaluation. The County's behavioral health communication efforts are intended to support public education, stigma reduction, early intervention, wellness promotion, and increased awareness of behavioral health resources and services available throughout Riverside County. Vendors selected through this RFP may be assigned to support the Eating Disorder Innovation Project (ED IOP) media campaign and/or other County-approved behavioral health initiatives as needs arise. BACKGROUND Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health (RUHS-BH) provides a comprehensive system of behavioral health services throughout Riverside County, including prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery, and community support services. As part of its mission to promote behavioral wellness and improve access to care, RUHS-BH utilizes public education, outreach, and strategic communication efforts to increase awareness of behavioral health resources, reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking behaviors, and engage diverse communities throughout the County. RUHS-BH conducts a variety of communication and outreach initiatives that support department priorities, public health objectives, and County-approved behavioral health programs. These initiatives may target specific populations, geographic regions, cultural communities, age groups, or behavioral health topics and may require a range of media, marketing, outreach, and community engagement strategies. One such initiative is the Eating Disorder Innovation Project (ED IOP), a Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Innovation project designed to develop, test, and evaluate innovative approaches to behavioral health service delivery. Innovation projects are intended to create new learning, improve service access and engagement, identify emerging best practices, and generate knowledge that can inform future behavioral health policies, programs, and service models. To support these efforts, RUHS-BH seeks access to qualified media and outreach providers capable of developing and implementing strategic communication campaigns that effectively reach diverse audiences, promote behavioral health awareness, increase community engagement, and support project-specific objectives. The establishment of a Qualified Vendor Pool will provide the County with flexible access to specialized expertise and resources necessary to support current and future behavioral health communication initiatives as needs arise. Behavioral health outreach and communication efforts may include public awareness campaigns, digital and traditional media strategies, content creation, community engagement activities, stakeholder outreach, educational initiatives, multilingual communications, event promotion, and other activities designed to increase awareness of behavioral health services and improve community access to information and resources throughout Riverside County. PROGRAM GOALS The Mindful Body and Recovery Program (Eating Disorder Innovation Project) is designed to improve access to eating disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, education, and recovery support services throughout Riverside County. As a Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Innovation initiative, the program seeks to develop, evaluate, and disseminate innovative approaches that improve outcomes for individuals affected by eating disorders while generating knowledge that can inform future behavioral health practices. The program's primary goals include: Integrating behavioral health and primary care services to support a comprehensive approach to eating disorder treatment and recovery. Improving access to high-quality, evidence-based services for underserved and historically underrepresented populations throughout Riverside County. Reducing stigma and increasing awareness of eating disorders through culturally responsive outreach, education, and community engagement. Developing and maintaining educational resources, including a Resource Library and Digital Hub, to support public awareness, consumer education, and professional learning. Supporting workforce development and professional training through the dissemination of evidence-based practices, emerging research, and innovative treatment approaches. (PLEASE REFER TO RFP FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS)
