Regional Access Project seeks to improve Behavioral Health

To improve access to behavioral health, DHF and Regional Access Project seek proposals.

Desert Healthcare Foundation and Regional Access Project seek proposals to improve access to behavioral health.

The Regional Access Project Foundation (RAP) and Desert Healthcare Foundation (DHCF) are continuing their partnership to improve and increase community access to behavioral/mental health services in the Coachella Valley.

Both foundations recently approved investing $300,000 each toward addressing behavioral health needs, allocating $600,000 total to be distributed among qualified nonprofit organizations through a Request for Proposals (RFP).

Released to the public on January 3, 2022, the RFP asks that nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations who apply for funding through the Mental Health Initiative (MHI) grant, offer programs intended to meet, improve, and increase access to behavioral health services and resources that serve the identified target population (primarily low-income residents with an emphasis on black and indigenous people of color with children) in eastern Riverside County.

Funded programs should have the intention to create a lasting impact on the residents served by the program and help to foster long-term change for residents in need of mental health services. Proposals will be accepted by the RAP Foundation. More details can be found here.

The RFP follows a joint effort by the foundations in early 2021 to address behavioral health challenges related to COVID-19. Each foundation contributed $150,000 at that time, and 14 organizations were awarded funds on April 28, 2021.

The new RFP initiative is in alignment with the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation’s new five-year strategic plan, which prioritizes proactively expanding community access to behavioral/mental health services as Goal #3. The plan was approved by the District and Foundation Board in October.

About the RAP Foundation
The Regional Access Project Foundation (RAP) Inc. was incorporated in 1992 as a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation in order to address unmet needs in health, mental health and juvenile intervention for residents of eastern Riverside County through grants and technical assistance to not-for-profit service providers. Funding of the RAP Foundation is primarily through unique cooperative agreements between the RAP Foundation and the County of Riverside; and, between the County of Riverside and the City of Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency.