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Mental Health Fund

Grant Funding Programs

General funding information

The Community Mental Health Fund invests in mental health services through partnerships with non-profit agencies that provide quality mental health care for persons with mental health concerns.

Through these partnerships, we strive to ensure that mental health services are equitably accessible and responsive to the varied and unique needs of Jackson County residents. Every year our funding supports over 25,000 residents who are without insurance and are in need of mental health care.

Grant funding programs

The Board of Trustees has authority to contract with established tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable corporations to: operate, supplement, maintain or deliver purchased services within: community mental health centers, mental health clinics or comprehensive mental health service providers. Funding is contractual and performance-based. Billing and treatment records are audited.

CMHF funding eligibility requirements

Applicant agencies are required to verify legal status and mental health operations through documentation including but not limited to:

  • Verifiable IRS charitable tax-exemption status, Missouri incorporation, and financial audits
  • Proof that agency is financially stable and has provided mental health care in Jackson County, Missouri, for at least three years prior to initial application
  • Quality assurance records attesting that treatment and licensure meet state requirements and Board of Trustees standards
mental health therapist and client sitting in park

Fee-for-Service guidelines

Agencies within our Fee-for-Service network provide an array of pre-approved mental health services to meet the unique and varying needs of uninsured and underinsured Jackson County residents.

Agencies are reimbursed for their work through binding contract agreements. The services they deliver are billed quarterly and audited by the CMHF Program Liaison Team.

2027 Fee-for-Service Applications

CMHF request for 2027 funding proposals

The Board of Trustees requests mental health fee-for-service funding applications from agencies currently funded in these funding categories:

  • Safety Net
  • Children's Treatment Centers
  • Community-Based Mental Health
  • Families and Children
  • Domestic and Sexual Violence
  • Support Services

Opening date for 2027 applications

Access to applications opens September 8th, 2026, and can be found on our website in our Partnership Exchange Portal (PEP).

Pre-proposal Q&A meeting

A Zoom presentation focused on using the new PEP electronic application system and answering application questions will be held September 15th, 2026, from 10:30 – 11:30 am.

The deadline for 2027 applications is October 9, 2026. Funding for the 2027 contract year will cover January 1, 2027, to December 31st, 2027.

CMHF mental health grant funding icon

Who’s eligible for funding?

Applicant agencies are limited to existing 2026 Community Mental Health Fund Network Agencies. First-time applicants please, contact us regarding eligibility and future opportunities. All funding is limited to qualified, 501c)(3) charitable mental health organizations serving Jackson County, Missouri residents in Jackson County.

Updated Service Unit definitions

Our 2027 Service Unit definitions explain services, billable rates, staff credentials and documentation. Applicants can shorten proposal narrative by using these definitions.

Have questions?

Register to attend our September 15 Zoom meeting for answers.

Reference documents

  • Service Unit definitions: Explains services, billable rates, staff credentials and documentation. Applicants can shorten proposal narrative by using these definitions.
  • Service Plan example: In PEP, our Expenditure Plan is now named Service Plan. Agencies no longer need to upload a separate document. Enter and save all proposed service units (Full, Partial, Variable) within PEP. You may use the existing Excel document for planning purposes, but it is no longer uploaded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Top 5 Application Questions

  • Are all services on the Service Unit Definitions available to us?

    Not necessarily. Some services require prior approval; those are identified in the instructions. Some services have license and documentation requirements that are not a fit for all agencies. If you propose a service not in your current contract, the reasons should be explained using data.

  • We expect more clients in the coming year. Will increases be considered?

    Your proposal should explain the need with quantitative and clinical data. Explain your ability to provide services that respond to the data you provided. Funding decisions will consider the availability of CMHF funds.
  • This year my agency would like to shift services from individual therapy to group therapy. Is this acceptable?

    Any major year-to-year change in your Expenditure Plan should be explained in the proposal. Using your question as an example, your rationale should provide data explaining the need for the change, plus how clients’ individual therapy needs would be met if those services were reduced.
  • How recent does our Certificate of Good Standing need to be?

    Current as of the date of application. This document certifies that your agency is registered with the Secretary of State to do business in Missouri. The copy you upload in your application does not need to be certified.
  • Are there word limits for narrative questions?

    Any questions with word or character limits are noted in the application. For all questions, brief answers are preferred. We are not looking for details beyond what is asked in the question. If we need more information, we will ask for it later.

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We track mental health-related legislation and events, plus grant and network partner news to keep residents informed about the important work made possible by Jackson County's mental health levy.