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**For Immediate Release Contact: Shelly Burgess**

May 2, 2006 Phone: (240) 276-2130

[www.SAMHSA.gov](http://www.SAMHSA.gov/)

**SAMHSA EXPANDS MATRIX OF PROGRAM PRIORITIES**

To meet the evolving needs of the fields of substance abuse and mental
health services, Charles Curie, Administrator of the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), today announced the
release of a revised matrix of agency program priorities and
cross-cutting management principles.

The new matrix includes suicide prevention and workforce development as
major program priority areas for SAMHSA. Disaster readiness and response
was moved from program priority to cross-cutting principle because it
impacts all of the agency's operations. The cross-cutting principle on
collaboration was modified to include an emphasis on international work,
and the principle on reducing stigma was enhanced with a new focus on
reducing discrimination.

"Over the past five years, we have worked to align SAMHSA's resources to
create systemic change," Curie said. "We have invested agency resources
in the program priority areas and we have built a record of achievement,
including the Access to Recovery, Strategic Prevention Framework, Mental
Health System Transformation, and Co-occurring State Incentive Grants
programs, among others. The Matrix serves as our guidepost for budget
formulation, program development and resource allocation at SAMHSA. It
focuses staff and the field on nurturing a few redwoods rather than
letting a thousand flowers bloom."

The priorities identified in the Matrix are the result of discussions
with SAMHSA advisory councils, members of congress, people working in
the field, researchers, advocacy and constituency groups, family
members, and people working to obtain and sustain recovery.

Curie noted, "When faced with the fact that the annual number of
suicides in our country now outnumber homicides by three to two,
approximately 30,000 and 18,000 respectively -- the urgency and
immediacy of the need to take action speaks for itself. In the area of
workforce, we have little progress to show for all of the talk.
Workforce development is no longer just another good idea. It is past
time for action."

SAMHSA's 12 program priority areas are: co-occurring disorders,
substance abuse treatment capacity, seclusion and restraint, strategic
prevention framework, children and families, mental health
transformation, suicide prevention, homelessness, older adults, HIV/AIDS
and hepatitis, criminal and juvenile justice and workforce development.
Each priority area is assigned an agency lead who is responsible for
developing a two year action plan and achieving the steps identified.

The cross cutting management principals include: science to
services/evidence-based practices; data for performance measurement and
management; collaboration with public, private, and international
partners; reducing stigma and discrimination and other barriers to
services; cultural competency/eliminating disparities; community and
faith-based approaches; addressing trauma and violence; financing
strategies and cost-effectiveness; rural and other specific settings;
and disaster readiness and response.

Link to the new Matrix on the SAMHSA web site at:
[[http://www.samhsa.gov/Matrix/Matrix_Brochure_2006.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.samhsa.gov/Matrix/Matrix_Brochure_2006.pdf).

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*SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the
accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance
abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health service
delivery systems.*