# Rural Health Transformation Program: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiatives The Minnesota Department of Health is offering competitive grants under the Rural Health Transformation Program: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiatives. Supported by CMS/HHS and enacted under Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21, the initiative aims to expand and improve child and adolescent mental health systems in rural Minnesota through regional collaboration, workforce training, outreach, and service infrastructure for crisis services. Grants will fund the planning and development of regional initiatives for community-based mental health services, emphasizing evidence-based and research-informed practices, culturally and developmentally appropriate interventions, and trauma-informed care. Target outcomes include increased access to services, collaborative regional models, family and community support, data-driven evaluation, creative partnerships, and continuum of care for rural children and adolescents. Applicants must address the unique needs of children and adolescents and may not use funds for direct clinical, billable, duplicated, or supplanted services. The RHTP grant is 100% federally funded, with a total federal funding pool of $193,090,618.14 and approximately $1,782,000 awarded for this cycle to 5–10 regional collaborations (maximum award $400,000, minimum $200,000). Applications close on June 15, 2026 (4:30 p.m. CT). ## Key facts - Status: Closed - Type: RFP - Issued by: Minnesota Department of Health (Minnesota) - Posted: 2026-05-11 - Questions due: 2026-06-01 - Application due: 2026-06-15 - Funding: $1 – $1.8M - Eligible applicants: Established Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaboratives, Integrated Children’s Mental Health and Family Services Collaboratives, Counties or consortia of counties/county health boards, Consortia/regions serving Minnesota's Adult Mental Health Initiatives, Tribal Nations - How to apply: Online through the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care grants portal. - Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS) - Official source: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/ruraltrans/grants.html ## Eligibility Applicants must be located in Minnesota and serve rural communities outside of the seven-county metropolitan area (Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Washington, Carver, and Scott counties). Eligible entities include: established Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaboratives (including Integrated Children’s Mental Health and Family Services Collaboratives), counties or consortia of counties/county health boards, current consortia/regions serving Minnesota’s Adult Mental Health Initiatives (strongly encouraged to apply in the same group configuration), and Tribal Nations. ## Requirements Required application materials include a completed application form, project narrative, budget table and narrative, letters of commitment (if applicable), proof of eligibility, and an Applicant Conflict of Interest Disclosure. Applications must be submitted online by the deadline. Budgeted expenses must be eligible (e.g., personnel time for planning, contracted services), and administrative costs are capped at 6%. Ineligible expenses include direct clinical or billable services, fundraising, taxes (except sales tax), political contributions, lobbyists, bad debts, late fees, finance charges, contingency funds, and other items listed in RFP Attachment B. ## Required attachments - Completed Application Form - Project Narrative - Budget Table and Narrative - Letters of Commitment (if consortia or collaborators) - Proof of eligibility (see RFP and RUCA definitions) - Applicant Conflict of Interest Disclosure ## Application package and source documents - [MN - 2026 - Request for Proposal: RHTP: Children’s Mental Health Initiative](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/74c281d5-9a8b-4a53-8baa-8dd81eaf1821/file) - [MN - 2025 - Minnesota RHTP Funding Opportunities and Updates Summary](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/0e8e2a90-fbff-4127-a7c8-bb36f8e80efe/file) - [MN - 2026 - RHTP: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiatives (RHTP Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiatives RFP)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/e372b82c-43d6-43d5-b56f-3b00148627bb/file) (primary) — official: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/ruraltrans/docs/cmhirfp.pdf - [MN - 2026 - RHTP FY2026 Application: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiatives – Minnesota Department of Health (Children's Mental Health Initiative RFP Webinar Slides)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/0ed913e1-a518-431e-9bad-495f3bb9051a/file) — official: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/ruraltrans/docs/cmhislides.pdf - [MN - 2026 - RHTP Funding - MN Dept. of Health (MN RHTP Grants Page)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/34c8e5a9-06b3-4f40-aeed-b02f3f471c04/file) — official: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/ruraltrans/grants.html - [MN - 2026 - 2026 (FY27) Workplace Safety Grants for Health Care Entities](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/a14bd2cb-79d7-42f6-b9e6-754810175bca/file) — official: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/funding/grants/docs/wpswebinar.pdf More Minnesota RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/mn (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/mn.md) --- Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-health-transformation-program-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-initiativ--7ab0817371 — data as of 2026-10-14. Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.