CHIA/BLC seeks quotes from qualified and approved Contractors currently on the Department of Public Health’s Departmental Master Agreement for Research and Data Analysis Services Provided by Organizations (RFR #241733) to assist BLC with an evaluation of the MASStrong Program (MASStrong), a partnership between GPS Group Peer Support (GPS) and BLC. MASStrong uses a support group wellness and mental health model to provide mental health resources and skills development to health care workers. The MASStrong program comprises the following elements: Support groups: Free, online, confidential, weekly sessions tailored to different health care workers (e.g., those in recovery, dealing with grief, and specific groups like Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino health care workers) Facilitator training: Participants learn to facilitate GPS support groups within their health care communities. Skill sessions: A follow-up to facilitator training, providing weekly opportunities to practice skills with coaching and mentorship. Certification: Participants can become certified GPS facilitators through a certification fidelity check, gaining competency in support group facilitation. Continuing education: Monthly advanced skills sessions and webinars on special topics to further enhance facilitator skills and receive continuing education credits. Curriculum and toolkit development: Development of materials for subpopulations, such as perinatal workers, providers working with immigrant and refugee families, and social workers. Supervisor training: Annual training for supervisors to effectively implement and oversee the GPS model in their organizations, including a supervisor toolkit. Group sessions will be able to accommodate up to 90 participants per week or 4,680 individuals per year from April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Facilitator training sessions will number 16 between April 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027, with between 100 and 300 individuals trained per session for a total of 1,600-4,800 individuals. The recruitment of participants and facilitators will be accomplished, in part, through partnerships with organizations that represent or employ health care workers (implementation partners). The independent evaluator (Contractor) selected as a result of this procurement will develop an evaluation plan and metrics for understanding program experience and impact in collaboration with BLC and GPS, collect and analyze mixed-methods data (e.g., survey, interview), develop interim reports based on rolling analyses, and develop a final report at the end of the program.
