Solicitation of Interest (SOI): Psychiatric Practitioner position for collaboration with New York City-based Safe Options Support (SOS) teams

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is seeking letters of interest to establish Psychiatric Practitioner services to work in collaboration with the NYC-based SOS teams serving individuals currently experiencing street homelessness and subway dwelling individuals.  This includes but is not limited to individuals with serious mental illness or a co-occurring disorder. The SOS Teams use an evidence-based Critical Time Intervention approach to provide intensive outreach, engagement, and care coordination services to serve individuals who are unsheltered. Individuals are identified through collaboration with community partners including outreach teams, law enforcement, hospitals, and others in close contact with those in need. The teams serve individuals as they transition from street homelessness to housing and connect participants with treatment and support services, while also prioritizing self-care and well-being on the road to self-efficacy and recovery. OMH is seeking 2.2 FTEs of Psychiatric Practitioner time to support 11 SOS teams (approximately one day per week to each of the eleven teams). The Psychiatric Practitioners will be assigned to deliver direct psychiatric care to service recipients, both in the community and in an office setting. This will include the provision of services on the street. The Psychiatric practitioner will also be expected to act as a consultant and liaison with hospitals and other providers regarding mutual clients, as well as provide education and training to SOS staff on relevant topics and medical advancements. Goals: OMH has three main goals for this NYC-based initiative: Increase access to person centered, recovery oriented, trauma informed psychiatric services for individuals connected to NYC SOS Teams whose needs have been unmet in traditional community-based services. Improve coordination with hospitals, street outreach teams, and other behavioral health providers to advocate for effective treatment plans and connection to appropriate levels of care. Increase knowledge and education among SOS staff and offer additional opportunities for clinical consultation to enhance quality of care.   Deliverables: To accomplish these goals, OMH is seeking providers or vendors with the capability to: Perform diagnostic evaluations, provide psychotherapy, and implement psychiatric medication regimens for SOS participants when clinically indicated. These services are expected to be delivered where individuals are located in the community, including locations where unsheltered individuals may be staying. Implement long-acting injectable medications, Medication Assisted Therapy, clozapine therapy, and medication delivery support with a focus on medication regimens that are accessible for individuals experiencing homelessness. Use flexible interventions such as field visits, engagement encounters and telepsychiatry to improve access to care. Work with the SOS team to communicate with non-SOS psychiatric providers to clarify treatment roles, update diagnoses, advocate for treatment interventions, and coordinate care transitions between practitioners. Collaborate with the SOS team to communicate with hospitals and crisis services when indicated. Collaborate with the SOS team to develop clinical treatment plans, support the team in offering evidence-based practices, help to identify clinical educational needs of staff, provide clinical trainings, and provide input about case management support. Review the quality of the care provided by the SOS team and collaborate with team leadership to continuously improve the quality of care. Anticipated Outcomes: Establishing partnerships and collaborations with SOS Teams to support individuals transitioning from street homelessness into housing. Expanded access to psychiatric services and medication management for individuals experiencing street homeless and those who are subway dwelling. Improved access to mental health and substance use treatment where indicated. Increased recipients’ abilities to move into a long-term or permanent housing setting. Timely identification of any physical medical concerns that may require referral for follow up and treatment. Improved communication and role clarification between SOS teams and other street outreach and behavioral health providers Increased knowledge of best practices and medical advancements by SOS staff Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are organizations employing psychiatric care providers with expertise in: Delivering mental health and substance use services to individuals who are experiencing street homelessness in a community-based setting. Addressing population health issues that are common among individuals experiencing street homelessness. Providing psychiatric medications that are accessible and evidence-based for individuals experiencing homelessness. Please send your indication of interest and any questions via email to Amanda Szczepkowski at contact@example.gov  Please indicate “Psychiatric Practitioner position for collaboration with New York City-based Safe Options Support (SOS) teams:” in the subject line. Indication of Interest are due by:   2:00 PM on June 10th, 2024.   Please note this is solely a Solicitation of Interest and does not guarantee an award or contract. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Set Aside: No Total MWBE Participation Goals: 0% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Contracting Goal: 0% Disadvantaged Owned Sub-Contracting Goal: 0% Due date:06/18/2024 2:00 PM PLEASE SEND LETTERS OF INTEREST TO AMANDA SZCZEPKOWSKI (OMH) contact@example.gov Contract term: 5 Years County(ies): Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond Business entities awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: None