Opportunity Overview
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications to expand and sustain parent peer professionals as subject matter experts who strengthen local systems of care and engage youth and families statewide. The program emphasizes parent-peer-led training, workforce development, statewide consultation, and expansion of the Certified Parent Peer Specialist workforce in under-resourced areas.
Funding and Deadline
DHS estimates one award of $339,000 per year, for total anticipated funding of $1,695,000 over five years. No match is required. Written questions are due September 23, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., and applications are due October 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The Wisconsin DHS Current Grant Funding Opportunities index specifies Central Time for listed solicitation deadlines; applications are due October 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are federally recognized Tribal nations sharing boundaries with Wisconsin, nonprofit organizations providing services to people in Wisconsin, and Wisconsin public agencies. Applicants must operate in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 46.54 and meet all eligibility requirements when they apply.
Program Priorities
The funded organization must build parent-peer-led workshops and trainings, create local opportunities for parent peer professionals to deliver them, strengthen workforce-development relationships with Tribal nations, counties and community organizations, establish a statewide parent peer professional consultation body, and expand the Certified Parent Peer Specialist workforce in under-resourced areas.
Applicant Fit and Program Scope
The grant supports a statewide parent-peer professional network for training, consultation, certification and workforce development benefiting Wisconsin children, youth and families. Competitive applicants must demonstrate eligible organizational status, capacity to coordinate statewide activities, and practical partnerships with Tribal nations, counties, community organizations and parent peer professionals. Continued funding over the five-year period is subject to annual contracts, satisfactory performance and available funds.
Application Requirements
Applications require a narrative response of no more than 10 pages plus required documents including IRS Form W-9, the first-year Line-Item Budget (Form F-01601-C), letters of commitment from active project partners, organizational chart(s), and position descriptions for positions directly involved in the program. Submit applications by email to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Parent Peer Professional Led Workforce Development. Active project partners must provide signed letters of commitment; general letters of support do not substitute for those required documents.
Verified source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, official solicitation posted September 3, 2026, revised October 19, 2026, and checked against current DHS instructions October 28, 2026.