This section is designed to help you apply what you've learned about SLRP's selection criteria and process to your own situation in order to determine you're best application strategy.

Application Strategy and Considerations for Priority Applicants, (Not Providing Mental Health Care Services):

Generally, the best strategy for priority applicants is to apply during the April Application Period for a Competitive Contract.  Priority applicants include current SLRP Providers applying to re-contract for a third year, priority providers, and non-priority providers working at SLRP Priority Practice Sites.  As described above in SLRP PROVIDER SELECTION CRITERIA, priority applicants have preference over non-priority candidates in the awarding of SLRP contracts.  This means they will have a much better chance than non-priority candidates of receiving a Competitive Contract, which does not require an employer match.

Priority applicants, like all SLRP applicants, are given randomly assigned lottery numbers.  These lottery numbers are used to select applicants for SLRP contracts after all other preference-based selection criteria have been applied to applicants for that application period.  If Competitive Contract funds- the pool of 50% Federal/50% State dollars that fund Competitive Contracts, is insufficient to award contracts to all priority applicants, candidates with the lowest lottery numbers will be selected for contracts until Competitive Contracts funds are exhausted.  As explained above in SLRP SELECTION PROCESS AND RULES, applicants applying to re-contract with SLRP, as well as those with a double priority, will receive preference over applicants without a double priority.

Once all Competitive Contract funds are exhausted, priority applicants not awarded Competitive Contracts will be placed on the Competitive Contract Waiting List and will be offered Competitive Contracts as candidates already selected decline participation or are determined to be ineligible for the program.  Selection of applicants from the Competitive Contract Waiting List will be based on the SLRP selection criteria and process.

Please note that any priority or non-priority applicant who applies for a Local Match Contract, is selected and then declines, will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list for Competitive Contracts, without benefit of their lottery number or any preferences regarding provider or practice site priority.

Application Strategy and Considerations for Eligible Mental Health Care Providers:

The only strategy available for eligible mental health care providers is to apply for a CMH/DOC State Match Contract during the April Application Period, or during the November Application Period, if offered.  CMH/DOC State Match Contracts and Local Match Contracts share the same pool of Federal funds, but mental health care providers have preference over all other priority and non-priority applicants for these funds. 

Since they have preference, the most important considerations for mental health care providers is making sure they will be employed in an approved mental health care practice site as described above in ELIGIBLE SLRP PROVIDER TYPES before applying for SLRP, obtaining employer agreement for use of CMH or DOC funds as local match for their future contracts, and meeting all Complete, Single-submission Application Package requirements (discussed below). 

Application Strategy and Considerations for Non-Priority Applicants:

Generally, the best strategy for non-priority applicants is to apply during the April Application Period for a Local Match Contract, which requires employers to contribute 50% of the provider's SLRP contract amount.  Non-priority applicants include all non-priority providers working at non-priority SLRP practice sites. 

Providers applying to re-contract with SLRP, however, are considered a top priority and should apply for a Competitive Contract.

Non-priority applicants are selected for Local Match Contracts based on whether or not they applied for a Local Match Contract and on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.

Non-priority applicants who apply for Local Match Contracts during the April Application Period may increase their chances of receiving a SLRP contract for the following reasons.

1.   Due to their preference, priority applicants typically apply for and are awarded Competitive Contracts.  This means that fewer priority applicants tend to apply for Local Match Contracts.

2.   Non-priority applicants who apply for Local Match Contracts will have preference in the selection process for Local Match Contracts over priority and non-priority applicants who applied for Competitive Contracts.  Non-priority applicants not initially offered for a Local Match Contract will be placed on the Local Match Contract Waiting List.  Applicants on the Waiting List will be offered contracts as candidates already selected decline participation or are determined to be ineligible for the program.  Selection of non-priority applicants from the Local Match Contract Waiting List will be based on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.

3.   If not offered a Local Match Contract, non-priority applicants who apply for Local Match Contracts may be selected for a Competitive Contract.  If the number of Competitive Contracts that can be funded exceeds the number of priority and non-priority applicants who applied for Competitive Contracts, remaining contracts will first be awarded to priority applicants and then to non-priority applicants who applied for, but were not offered Local Match Contracts.  Non-priority applicants will be selected based on the lowest remaining, randomly-assigned lottery number.

Please note that any priority or non-priority applicant who applies for a Local Match Contract, is selected and then declines, will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list for Competitive Contracts, without benefit of any preference or lottery number.

SLRP Practice Site Application and Declaration of Intent:

Employers interested doubling a portion of their recruitment and retention funds through a Local Match Contract, must mail a completed SLRP Practice Site Application & Declaration of Intent to the SLRP Office.  They must sign the signature block under Part A-Number 1, indicating a "Match Contract Contribution Election".  Only Provider Applications having a corresponding SLRP Practice Site Application & Declaration of Intent with a clear Match Contract Contribution Election will be considered as applications for Local Match Contacts.  All provider applications lacking this election on its corresponding SLRP Practice Site Application & Declaration of Intent will automatically be considered an application for a Competitive Contract. 

Please remember that providers must still include an updated SLRP Practice Site Application & Declaration of Intent as part of their Complete, Single-submission, SLRP Application Package. 

Application Strategy and Considerations for New Providers and Providers in Transition:

Priority and non-priority providers seeking their first health care position, as well as those in transition between employers, may wish to consider seeking employment at one of the priority practice sites listed above in SLRP PROVIDER SELECTION CRITERIA in order to gain preference in the selection process for Competitive Contracts.