2026 Youth Mental Health Therapeutic Services

The deadline to apply for this funding opportunity is Friday, June 12, 2026 at 11:59pm PST.

DEEL is investing $1 million to increase access to clinical therapeutic mental health services and supports for Seattle secondary students and/or youth ages 13-24 who live and/or attend school in Seattle, including opportunity youth whose education has been interrupted to support their return to school and/or career.   

Background:

DEEL mental health investments are designed to improve the mental wellness of Seattle youth and support improved education outcomes and career readiness. This investment is part of the City’s Every Child Ready Initiative and funded by the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy.    

A primary goal in expanding access to therapeutic mental health services for Seattle youth is to ensure availability of culturally and linguistically responsive services for populations where local need and underreach are evident. A needs analysis and landscape assessment conducted by DEEL staff identified youth populations in Seattle who are not currently accessing existing mental health services or experience disproportionate barriers including gaps in culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate care. 

DEEL is seeking applications from providers with a demonstrated history of effectively serving: 

• Immigrant and refugee youth 

• Youth who speak a primary language other than English 

• Foster youth  

• BIPOC youth served at low rates and/or underserved relative to their share of the youth population in Seattle by current community-based therapeutic services, including  
  • Hispanic/Latinx 
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 
  • American Indian/Alaska Native 
  • North African/Middle Eastern youth

A total of $1M in funding is available for the contract period from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027. The available funding amount per provider varies based on proposals and contract negotiations, with anticipated award amounts ranging from $170,000 to $830,000. 

Please note: Funding awards and contract execution under this RFP are contingent upon approval of the 2025 Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy Implementation and Evaluation Plan by Seattle City Council and the availability of appropriated FEPP Levy funds. DEEL reserves the right to modify, delay, or cancel awards based on Council action or changes to available funding. DEEL will not provide individual notice of changes, and applicants are responsible for regularly checking this webpage for technical assistance information, updates, clarifications, or amendments. 

Who can apply: 

The 2026 Youth Mental Health Therapeutic Services RFP seeks proposals for the following two service tracks: 

1. Universal Access track: virtual care model with low barrier access to therapeutic services
2. Specialized Services track: virtual, in-person, and hybrid care models with specialized therapeutic services for priority youth populations

Prospective grantees for both service tracks must meet the following minimum qualifications:   

• Services may be delivered by community-based organizations, health agencies, and/or private companies with expertise in therapeutic supports, mental health and/or behavioral health services  

• Provider must deliver therapeutic and behavioral health services through clinicians licensed to provide services in Washington State 

• Provider must maintain city and state insurance, licensing, privacy, confidentiality, and regulatory requirements  

• Provider must have systems in place to protect confidential client information and comply with all applicable privacy laws 

Providers must serve Seattle secondary students and/or youth ages 13-24 who live and/or attend school in Seattle. Additionally, successful funding proposals must: 

• Provide direct clinical therapeutic services (individual and/or group therapy), including intake, assessment, and treatment planning  

• Reduce barriers to accessing care  

• Expand service access for underserved youth populations  

• Deliver culturally responsive care aligned with youth needs   

• Conduct youth engagement through outreach and referral partnerships  

• Coordinate with schools, providers, and community partners to improve referral pathways and streamline service delivery 

To learn more about eligibility and application requirements, please download and read the RFP Overview linked below.  

Timeline*: 

DEEL will accept responses from applicants until Friday, June 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.  

*Dates subject to change. Prospective applicants are responsible for checking this web page for changes.  

How to apply: 

Please submit your application via the Submittable platform. All applicants will need to sign up for a Submittable account here: Seattle DEEL Submission Manager (submittable.com).  
 
Proposals must respond to the prompts and focus areas listed in the RFP Overview.   

Reference Links 

Use the following links to access information you will need to reply to this RFP.  

Application Essentials  

Supporting Materials:

All materials and updates to the RFP are available on DEEL’s Funding Opportunities webpage. Please note: Changes to the funding process and timeline may occur. DEEL will not provide individual notice of changes, and applicants are responsible for regularly checking the webpage for any updates, clarifications, or amendments. DEEL will not provide individual notice of changes, and applicants are responsible for regularly checking the webpage for any updates, clarifications, or amendments.    

How to submit questions: 

For Questions related to the Youth Mental Health Therapeutic Services RFP:    

• Submit questions about this RFP via email to DEELFunding@seattle.gov and include “Question: Youth Mental Health Therapeutic Services RFP” in the subject line. Responses will be published and linked in the table above. Please allow three (3) business days for answers to submitted questions.  

For Technical Questions related to using Submittable:    

• Check the Submitter Resource Center   

• Send questions to Submittable Customer Support and by email to DEELfunding@seattle.gov with the Subject line: "Submittable Question: Youth Mental Health Therapeutic Services RFP". 

Language Assistance:

Do you need an interpreter? Do you need documents translated? Language assistance is available. Contact DEELfunding@seattle.gov or (206) 386-1050.