The Center for Community Solutions is seeking proposals from qualified vendors/consultants/organizations to provide an evaluation of the Great Minds Fellowship (GMF). We are especially interested in opportunities made possible through the fellowship related to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) (serving 0-5 year olds). DUE BEFORE 5:00PM March 12.
Purpose
This evaluation seeks to assess the effectiveness of the GMF program in expanding access to meaningful internships, supporting agencies in developing future professionals, and influencing students’ career trajectories. Understanding the program's outcomes will help determine its impact on workforce development, agency capacity, and interest in IECMH careers. Additionally, the evaluation will provide insights into how well the program was communicated to stakeholders and how it can be improved for future cohorts.
Background
IECMH is foundational to lifelong well-being, influencing cognitive, emotional, and social development from birth. The demand for professionals trained in this field continues to grow, yet barriers such as limited internship opportunities and lack of awareness hinder workforce expansion. Evaluating the GMF’s role in addressing these challenges is essential for shaping future investments in the behavioral health workforce and ensuring that young children and families receive the specialized care they need. Understanding the Great Minds Fellowship’s impact on IECMH workforce development will help stakeholders make informed decisions about investing in early childhood mental health services and training opportunities.
Scope of Work
The evaluation will focus on the following core areas:
1. Program Reach and Participation
- Number of GMF internships in Cuyahoga County
- Agencies that have hosted GMF internships
- Number of IECMH-focused internships
- Universities where participating students are enrolled
2. Program Communication
- History and examples of program outreach and promotion
- Communication process from program announcement to internship completion
- Perspectives from both program administrators and recipients of communication
3. Impact on Agencies
- Influence of GMF funding on internship offerings and management
- Adequacy of support provided to hosting agencies
- Job offers extended to interns, particularly in IECMH roles
- Contribution to increasing credentialed employees or pathways to credentialing
4. Impact on Interns
- Motivations for selecting a GMF internship
- Availability of alternative paid internship opportunities
- Influence of the internship on future career decisions
5. Impact on Universities
- Effect of GMF on student interest in behavioral health fields
- Challenges or pain points experienced in program participation
- Instances of students shifting their area of study post-GMF
6. Relationship Development
- Assist in relationship development with agencies that have a current interest in IECMH and institutions of higher education
Timeline
We anticipate the project will begin on April 10, 2025, and be completed by August 15.
Submission Instructions
- Written Narrative about how RFP respondent will complete the scope of work
- Proposed Timeline of activities and deliverables
- Price and payment schedule for the project
- Description of RFP’s qualifications and experience relative to this project
- Samples of work
- Contact name, title, affiliated organizations, phone number and email of three references
All final proposals and attachments must be emailed to emuttillo@communitysolutions.com no later than 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 12th
Contract Award
Anticipated notice of award will be released the week of March 24th
Frequently asked questions
Scope & Focus of the Evaluation
1. Why is the evaluation focused only on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) careers rather than all careers covered by the Great Minds Fellowship? How was this gap identified?
The focus on IECMH careers was determined based on identified workforce shortages in this field. The goal is to understand the impact of the Great Minds Fellowship in addressing this specific workforce gap and to inform future funding and programmatic decisions.
2. Is this evaluation statewide, or does it focus solely on Cuyahoga County?
This evaluation primarily focuses on Cuyahoga County.
Expectations & Deliverables
3. What is the intended use of the final deliverable? Will it be presented to funders or used to guide future funding alongside the Great Minds Fellowship?
The final deliverable will be used to inform funders and stakeholders about the effectiveness of the Great Minds Fellowship in addressing IECMH workforce needs.
4. What are the current metrics for the initiative? Are there existing examples of tracking progress for programs or participants that can be reviewed before submitting a proposal?
The Great Minds Fellowship is a new program and current metrics are limited. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Higher Education and Health Impact Ohio have data that can be used to develop metrics.
5. Will the indicators outlined in each core area already be collected at the time of project initiation?
No
Data Availability & Sources
7. How open is workforce@mha.ohio.gov to providing data for Cuyahoga County Great Minds internships? Or will researchers need to gather data by contacting universities and community behavioral health agencies individually?
Researchers will likely need to engage directly with universities and behavioral health agencies to supplement publicly available data.
8. If data are available, can you provide insight into their nature (e.g., quantitative vs. qualitative, unit of analysis, time unit, etc.)?
The publicly available data is provided by ODHE and OMHAS through their data dashboards. Additional data may be obtained through the Community Behavioral Health Centers that host fellows and colleges & Universities who offer the fellowship.
9. Are there pre- and post-data available for the indicators to assess change over time (e.g., the effect of GMF on student interest in behavioral health fields and students shifting their area of study post-GMF)?
We are not aware of any pre and post indicator data.
Budget & Timeline
11. Is there an approved budget or budget range for this work?
The maximum budget for this project is $28,000.
12. What is the expected timeline for this research initiative from start to finish?
The project is expected to be completed within five months. Specific deadlines will be established in consultation with the selected evaluator.
Other Considerations
13. Is there concern that not all Great Minds funds were spent or that insufficient funds were allocated to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in 2024/2025?
The evaluation aims to assess how funding has been allocated and whether it has effectively addressed IECMH workforce needs. Any concerns about unspent or misallocated funds will be explored as part of the analysis.
14. Why is the Center for Community Solutions not conducting this evaluation?
The evaluation is part of a larger initiative focused on strengthening the IECMH workforce in Cuyahoga County. Community Solutions is managing the implementation of the initiative and does not have capacity to conduct this evaluation.
15. Are you seeking a specific credential or educational background to conduct this work?
No specific credentials or educational backgrounds are required to conduct this work.
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