KFA board approves peers, community health workers RFP with $4.05 million available
May 09, 2026 | Legislative, Kansas
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The KFA board voted to approve a request for proposals aimed at expanding peer support and community health worker services for substance use disorder recovery, making $4,050,000 available for awards and setting an anticipated RFP release on May 26 with an application deadline of June 26.
The RFP, presented by staff member Alyssa, is intended to “advance community based, recovery oriented care by expanding availability of peer support, and community health workers,” she said. The packet sets an award ceiling of up to $450,000 over as many as three years and includes specific reporting indicators and application questions to document how projects will deliver peer and community health worker services and track barrier-reduction supports.
Staff described eligibility as consistent with prior KFA opportunities — state entities, municipalities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations may apply — and said reviewers will be asked to evaluate project need, sustainability and the specifics of how peer roles will be supported. Alyssa noted question 18 asks applicants to describe supports for peers’ ongoing supervision and training to address documented burnout risks.
Board members raised workforce concerns during the discussion. “I want to applaud you for putting in a component about exhaustion and burnout,” Committee member Sarah Kaler said, urging concrete supports for peer staff. Alyssa responded that the KFA team has connected with Sherry Watkins at the Opioid Response Network, which offers federally funded implementation supports that grantees can access.
Committee member Sarah Kaler moved to approve the RFP and rubric; Mike Brower seconded. The motion passed by voice vote and hand signal; the chair declared the approval unanimous. The transcript does not provide a numeric roll-call tally.
If approved applications follow the calendar in the packet, staff anticipate announcing awards in September and will convene an award selection meeting that requires a quorum of the board. Staff also said they will post RFP dates and related materials on the Sunflower Foundation site and other stakeholder channels and will provide further details to the minutes before materials are publicly released.
The RFP, presented by staff member Alyssa, is intended to “advance community based, recovery oriented care by expanding availability of peer support, and community health workers,” she said. The packet sets an award ceiling of up to $450,000 over as many as three years and includes specific reporting indicators and application questions to document how projects will deliver peer and community health worker services and track barrier-reduction supports.
Staff described eligibility as consistent with prior KFA opportunities — state entities, municipalities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations may apply — and said reviewers will be asked to evaluate project need, sustainability and the specifics of how peer roles will be supported. Alyssa noted question 18 asks applicants to describe supports for peers’ ongoing supervision and training to address documented burnout risks.
Board members raised workforce concerns during the discussion. “I want to applaud you for putting in a component about exhaustion and burnout,” Committee member Sarah Kaler said, urging concrete supports for peer staff. Alyssa responded that the KFA team has connected with Sherry Watkins at the Opioid Response Network, which offers federally funded implementation supports that grantees can access.
Committee member Sarah Kaler moved to approve the RFP and rubric; Mike Brower seconded. The motion passed by voice vote and hand signal; the chair declared the approval unanimous. The transcript does not provide a numeric roll-call tally.
If approved applications follow the calendar in the packet, staff anticipate announcing awards in September and will convene an award selection meeting that requires a quorum of the board. Staff also said they will post RFP dates and related materials on the Sunflower Foundation site and other stakeholder channels and will provide further details to the minutes before materials are publicly released.
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