Outpatient and Community Based Services

Pierce County seeks proposals for outpatient and community-based behavioral health services that support individuals with ongoing or emerging behavioral health needs. Services should be delivered in accessible, non-institutional settings, including homes, community spaces. Programs must promote recovery and stability, reduce reliance on crisis and inpatient care, and support long-term wellness through whole-person approaches.

Programs should coordinate with existing systems and demonstrate measurable improvements in health, functioning, and community connection.

This procurement is aligned with the Pierce County Behavioral Health Improvement Plan (BHIP), the 2026-2027 Pierce County Council's Behavioral Heath Focus Areas, and the County's 2026-2027 behavioral health funding priorities.

Proposers must be either a Behavioral Health Agency (BHA) providing outpatient and/or community-based services or a faith-based organization operating an outpatient clinic and/or providing community-based services, or a community agency employing licensed behavioral health providers who will provide services under this proposal. If your project is not providing outpatient and community-based services, please go to the Peer Services, Services for Justice-Involved Adults, Shelter and Housing Support Services, Wellness, Prevention, and Early Intervention, and/or Youth and School-Based Services RFPs, as applicable. Please see the Solicitations and Competitive Bids page.

All agencies may apply for funding through the Pierce County Behavioral Health and Therapeutic Courts (BHTC) Tax program. Proposed projects that serve more than one geographic area of the county will be given priority. Projects located in the City of Tacoma and serving only Tacoma residents must receive City of Tacoma funding.

Pierce County is particularly interested in proposals that leverage partnerships across systems of care; and demonstrate measurable improvements in stability, access, and long-term outcomes for diverse populations, including survivors of domestic violence.

In December 2020, the Pierce County Council passed Ordinance 2020-138 , authorizing a 1/10th of 1% Behavioral Health and Therapeutic Courts Tax (BHTC) in accordance with RCW 82.14.460 . The BHTC fund was established for the purpose of improving the quality of life for Pierce County residents and decreasing criminal justice system costs and emergency department use by reducing negative outcomes associated with untreated mental health and substance use disorders.

Pierce County recognizes outpatient and community-based services as a critical part of the behavioral health continuum, and the BHTC fund currently supports a range of outpatient services such as individual and group therapy, case management, psychoeducation, substance abuse counseling, and community-based services such as outreach and case management.

However, gaps remain in integration with housing, primary care, and social supports, as well as in tailoring services for underserved and marginalized communities. With this procurement, Pierce County seeks to strengthen outpatient and community-based care through approaches that promote stability, reduce crisis utilization, and enhance whole-person wellness across diverse populations.