Evaluation of the Budget 2022 Crisis Cafés Initiative

Summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora invites Proposals from experienced evaluation providers, including collaborative or consortium arrangements, to undertake an external evaluation of the Budget 2022 Crisis Recovery Café Initiative. The Crisis Recovery Café Initiative is a peer-led, community-based approach to supporting people experiencing mental health or addiction distress. Crisis Recovery Cafés provide safe, non-clinical environments focused on connection, choice, recovery, and early support, with the aim of improving experiences for tāngata whaiora and reducing unnecessary presentations to Emergency Departments. Health NZ is seeking a provider to deliver a lived experience-led evaluation that assesses the implementation, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of the initiative across a range of regional and service contexts throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The evaluation will include: • development of a co-designed evaluation framework • process evaluation of implementation and service delivery • outcome evaluation of the overall effectiveness and impact of the initiative The evaluation must incorporate both qualitative and quantitative approaches and demonstrate strong lived experience leadership across governance, design, analysis, interpretation, and reporting. Health NZ expects proposals to demonstrate culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and equitable approaches, including kaupapa Māori and Pacific perspectives. The evaluation findings will inform future investment decisions, service development, and broader system understanding of peer-led crisis alternatives and community-based mental health support. Health NZ welcomes responses from providers with expertise in lived experience-led approaches, peer support, kaupapa Māori evaluation, community-based mental health and addiction services, and complex system evaluation. Consortium approaches are encouraged where they strengthen capability and leadership across these areas. This is an open competitive procurement process conducted in accordance with the New Zealand Government Procurement Rules and Health NZ procurement policy.