Treatment Alternative Program

Overview

The Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications for funding to implement a Treatment Alternative Program for people in the criminal justice system with substance use concerns. This program is designed to enhance community safety by providing focused treatment interventions for participants as a voluntary alternative to conviction while fostering recovery and accountability. It targets the underlying causes or unmet needs that lead to criminal justice system involvement.

Program requirements

A Treatment Alternative Program must follow all the standards in Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 66 . The standards include identifying and providing resources for people in the criminal justice system eligible for services under Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 66.06 that meet the individual's needs specific to their offense and risk level while minimizing risk of re-arrest.

A majority of granted funding (at least 75%) must be used to provide treatment services as outlined in Wis. Stat. § 46.65 .

Eligible applicants

Agencies must be certified to operate one or more substance use programs under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 75 and be one of the following:

• A county department of community programs established under Wis. Stat. § 51.42
• A county department of human services established under Wis. Stat. § 46.23
• A private nonprofit corporation organized under Wis. Stat. ch. 181
• A Tribal agency appointed by the governing body of a federally recognized Tribal nation that shares boundaries with Wisconsin;
• A nonprofit minority agency (at least 50% of the members of the agency’s board of directors are members of a minority group and at least 50% of the participants are members of a minority group).

Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.

Application deadline

April 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Estimated number of awards

1

Estimated award amount(s)

$174,475 per year

Total funding available

$872,375 total

Anticipated length of funding opportunity

5 years

Anticipated contract dates

October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026
October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027
October 1, 2027 – September 30, 2028
October 1, 2028 – September 30, 2029
October 1, 2029 – September 30, 2030

Renewal of the contract each year will be based upon the awardee’s satisfactory performance, satisfactory completion of annual deliverables and grant expectations, audit findings, and the availability of funds.

Match requirement

None

Funding source

State general purpose revenue

Written questions due

March 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Submit written questions about this funding opportunity to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Treatment Alternative Program.

Answers posted

March 24, 2026 (estimated)

Award/denial notification timeline

May 18, 2026 (estimated)

Award statement

Award(s) will be made to the responsive and responsible applicant(s) that:

• Attains the highest scored application.
• Best meets the needs of the population of focus.
• Best meets the needs of the people within the state, as determined by DHS.

Application requirements

Applications must include responses to the statements in the narrative response section.

There is a 10-page narrative response maximum. Any information after the page limit will not be read, reviewed, nor scored for this funding opportunity.

Applications also must include the following documents:

• IRS Form W-9 (PDF)
• DCTS Summary Line item Budget, F-01601C (Excel)
• Organizational chart of the applying agency

The additional documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.

Application scoring rubric

Applications are read, reviewed, and scored by an evaluation team using a 100-point scale. For sections with a higher point value, more detail in the response may be needed.

• Program design: 25 points
• Capacity: 15 points
• Experience and knowledge: 20 points
• Sustainability: 10 points
• Documents: 5 points
• Grant priority: 25 points

Narrative response

The narrative response describes how you will address the purpose of this funding opportunity. The narrative response must:

• Use a page size of 8.5” x 11”
• Use a black font with a size of at least 11 point

Arial and Times New Roman are the recommended fonts for the narrative response.

The narrative response is a required component of your application. It must be organized into the following sections.

Reporting requirements

Recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:

• Performance reporting completed with due dates set in writing by DHS. Performance reporting is required no later than 30 days past the mid-point of the contract period, and no later than 30 days past the contract end date.
• Expense reporting submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.

Application submission

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. April 3, 2026.

Applications must include the narrative response and the additional documents outlined in the application requirements section.

By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges the statements on the Grant Funding Opportunities: Definitions and Legal Requirements page .

Submit applications to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Treatment Alternative Program.