Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center | HHS 2023 IHS ZSICC 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2023 IHS ZSICC 0001

The Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center (ZSICC) grant opportunity is a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS), focused on strengthening suicide prevention efforts across Indian health systems. The central goal is to build the capacity of existing Zero Suicide Initiative (ZSI) projects so they can improve the overall system of care for people who may be at risk for suicide. This opportunity emphasizes a comprehensive approach that works across multiple settings (not just one clinic or program) and is culturally informed, meaning implementation should fit the realities, strengths, and needs of Native communities and the systems that serve them.

Under this award, the ZSICC is expected to function as a coordinating and support hub that provides hands-on technical assistance to ZSI projects operating in Indian Country. The assistance is specifically expected to cover practical, operational areas that often determine whether suicide prevention work actually becomes part of routine care: data collection, reporting, training, resource development and sharing, and on-the-ground implementation support. Rather than directly delivering clinical services, the Coordinating Center role is to help participating sites and programs adopt consistent, high-quality practices, build staff capability, and improve system processes so that people at risk are identified earlier, engaged more effectively, and supported through safer care pathways.

A defining feature of the opportunity is that the technical assistance and implementation support must be aligned with the Zero Suicide model, particularly the core Seven Elements developed by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and documented in the Zero Suicide Toolkit (https://zerosuicide.edc.org/toolkit/zero-suicide-toolkit). In practice, this means the Coordinating Center would be expected to help sites strengthen leadership commitment to suicide prevention, implement trained workforce practices, improve identification and assessment for suicide risk, ensure safer and more evidence-informed care pathways, build better care transitions and follow-up, incorporate continuous quality improvement using data, and support engagement strategies that keep individuals connected to care. The intent is to move suicide prevention from being an added-on activity to becoming an integrated, system-wide standard of care.

The funding opportunity is listed as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally indicates substantial federal involvement during the project period, such as collaboration, guidance, and shared responsibility for key aspects of work. The opportunity is in the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.654. IHS expected to make one award, with an award ceiling of $850,000, meaning the maximum amount anticipated for the single selected recipient is up to that level.

Eligibility is broad enough to include multiple organization types that could credibly serve as a national or multi-site coordinating center. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding higher education institutions), and for-profit organizations other than small businesses, along with other entities as clarified in the funding notice. The opportunity was created on February 16, 2023, with an original closing date of April 17, 2023, and is identified by Funding Opportunity Number HHS 2023 IHS ZSICC 0001.

Overall, this grant is designed to accelerate consistent, culturally informed adoption of the Zero Suicide approach across Indian health systems by funding a single Coordinating Center that can standardize tools and reporting, expand training and implementation supports, and help participating programs use data and quality improvement methods to strengthen suicide prevention across the full continuum of care.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.654.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 16, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $850,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2023 IHS ZSICC 0001

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