DEPARTMENT 

of HEALTH

and HUMAN

SERVICES

Fiscal Year

2016

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration

Justification of

Estimates for

Appropriations Committees
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ii
I am pleased to present the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

(SAMHSA) Budget Request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. SAMHSA is requesting a total of $3.7

billion, reflecting a $44.6 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Budget. Of the request,

$103.0 million provides additional funding to support the Administration’stop behavioral health

priorities: strengthening crisis systems, addressing prescription drug and opioid abuse, expanding

the behavioral health workforce, and fostering tribal behavioral health.

The impact of untreated behavioral health conditions on people, communities, and healthcare 

costs in the United States is staggering. For example, costs for Medicaid enrollees with common 

chronic conditions and co-occurring mental and substance use disorders are two to four times

higher than average Medicaid enrollees. As Federal and state health agencies face major budget

constraints and changes to their systems which disproportionately affect people with behavioral 

health needs, addressing behavioral and physical health issues together can reduce costs and

improve overall health. This budget recognizes that reality and leverages SAMHSA's resources 

to build a stronger health system.

Too frequently, we hear of challenges experienced by people with serious mental illnesses or

substance use disorders and their families who cannot access needed care during times of acute 

crisis. The proposed Crisis Systems program mitigates the demand for inpatient beds by those

with serious mental illness and substance use disorders by coordinating crisis response with 

ongoing outpatient services and supports. The Budget Request will help communities build,

fund, and sustain crisis systems capable of preventing and deescalating behavioral health crises

as well as connecting individuals and families with needed post-crisis services.

Each year, more than 20,000 individuals die from prescription opioids and heroin. Preventing

opioid misuse that results in overdoses and deaths requires a comprehensive approach that

includes prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. The Budget Request proposes a

new community-based program to prevent prescription drug and opioid overdose-related deaths

and increases funding for medication-assisted treatment.

The Budget Request strengthens the behavioral health workforce by adding 8,000 new

professionals. In particular, SAMHSA recognizes the complementary role and value of peer 

providers working together with licensed clinicians. The Budget Request includes additional 

funding for a Peer Professional Workforce Development program and increases funding for the

SAMHSA-Health Resources and Services Administration Behavioral Health Workforce 

Education and Training program.

During a recent trip to Indian Country, the President reaffirmed his commitment to tribal

communities. Because American Indian/Alaska Native communities bear a disproportionate 

burden from mental and substance use disorders, the Budget Request includes additional funding 

for tribal efforts to address substance abuse, suicide, trauma, and school behavioral health issues.

SAMHSA submits this Budget Request to maintain its commitment to reducing the impact of

substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

Pamela S.Hyde,J.D

Administrator

Behavioral Health is EssentialTo Health • Prevention Works • Treatment is Effective • People Recover
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Table of Contents

Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Page

Letter from Administrator .............................................................................................................. iii

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. v 

Organization Chart ........................................................................................................................ vii 

A. Executive Summary

1. Introduction and Mission .................................................................................................... 1 

2. Overview of Budget Request .............................................................................................. 3 

3. Overview of Performance ................................................................................................. 15 

4. Discretionary All-Purpose Table ...................................................................................... 17 

B. Now is the Time ...................................................................................................................... 19 

C. Budget Exhibits

1. Appropriations Language ................................................................................................. 31 

2. Language Analysis ........................................................................................................... 34 

3. Amounts Available for Obligation ................................................................................... 38 

4. Summary of Changes ....................................................................................................... 39 

5. Budget Authority by Activity ........................................................................................... 40 

6. Authorizing Legislation .................................................................................................... 41 

7. Appropriations History ..................................................................................................... 43 

8. Appropriations Not Authorized by Law ........................................................................... 45 

D. Mental Health Services

1. Mental Health Appropriation............................................................................................ 49 

2. Mental Health Programs of Regional and National Significance ..................................... 50 

3. Children’s Mental Health Services................................................................................. 123 

4. Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Grants.................................. 129 

5. Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness ........................................ 135 

6. Community Mental Health Services Block Grant .......................................................... 141 

E. Substance Abuse Prevention

1. Substance Abuse Prevention Appropriation ................................................................... 151 

2. Substance Abuse Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance ............ 152 

F. Substance Abuse Treatment

1. Substance Abuse Treatment Appropriation .................................................................... 185 

2. Substance Abuse Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance ............. 186 

3. Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.............................................. 237 

v 
G. Health Surveillance and Program Support

1. Health Surveillance and Program Support ...................................................................... 251 

2. Public Awareness and Support ....................................................................................... 257 

3. Performance and Quality Information Systems .............................................................. 263 

4. Agency-Wide Initiatives ................................................................................................. 267 

H. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality ........................................................ 273 

I. Drug Control Budget ........................................................................................................... 289 

J. Prevention and Public Health Fund ................................................................................... 311 

K. Supplementary Tables

1. Budget Authority by Object Class................................................................................... 321 

2. Salaries and Expenses ...................................................................................................... 331 

3. Detail of Full-Time Equivalent Employee (FTE) ............................................................ 333 

4. Detail of Positions ............................................................................................................ 334 

5. Programs Proposed for Elimination ................................................................................. 335 

6. Federal Employment Funded by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act........... 336 

7. Physician’s Comparability Allowance Worksheet ........................................................... 337 

L. Significant Items.......................................................................................................................339 

M. SAMHSA-Specific Requirements ....................................................................................... 345 

vi
As of January 12th, 2015

Organizational Structure:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(SAMHSA)

(M)

IMMEDIATE OFFICE OFTHE

Director

OFFICEOF FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Aeling Director

CENTERFOR SUBSTANCE ABUS E

PREVENTION

Director

SERVICES

Director

CENTER FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE

TREATMENT

RADMPeter Delany, Ph.D.,LCSW-C

Director

(MC)

Director Director Director

Vil
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viii
Performance Budget Overview

Introduction

Addressing mental health and substance abuse is critical to the health of individuals and families.

Prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for behavioral health are essential

components of health service systems. These services improve health status and lower the 

economic and societal costs that mental illness and substance abuse have on individuals, families,

businesses, and governments. Substance abuse, addiction, poor emotional health, and mental

illnesses take a toll on individuals, families, and communities. As with physical illnesses, these

conditions cost money, and they cost lives, particularly when steps are not taken to prevent, or 

manage them effectively. Substance abuse and mental illness increase the cost of treating comorbid physical diseases and are leading drivers of disability. SAMHSA has a unique 

responsibility to focus the nation’s health and human services agendas on these preventable and

treatable problems, which stem from disease, trauma, and inadequate access to appropriate care,

and insufficient community and family supports. 

Mission

SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s

communities. SAMHSA accomplishes this mission through partnerships, policies, and programs

that build resilience and facilitate recovery for people with, or at risk for, mental and/or substance 

use disorders. 

1 
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2 
Strategic Vision of Budget Request Overview

Behavioral Health in America

“We must promote—to the best of our ability and by all possible and appropriate means—the 

mental and physical health of all our citizens.”

John F. Kennedy, February 5, 1963 

“We whisper about mental health issues and avoid asking too many questions. The brain is a

body part, too. We just know less about it. And there should be no shame in discussing or 

seeking help for treatable illnesses that affect too many people that we love.” 

Barack Obama, June 3, 2013 

Behavioral health remains one of America’s most pressing needs, yet it is also one of the most 

undervalued and least-addressed. Half of all Americans will experience symptoms of a 

behavioral health condition during their lives. Unfortunately, of the estimated 43.7 million

adults with a mental illness1 and 20.3 million adults with a substance use disorder in the past

year1

, many did not or could not seek the care they need. SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug

Use and Health (NSDUH) found that only 41 percent of adults with diagnosable mental health

problems1 received needed treatment. Similarly, only 2.5 million people received treatment at a 

specialty substance abuse treatment facility, far fewer than the estimated 22.7 million Americans

with a substance use disorder.1

Untreated behavioral health conditions exact a high cost on American individuals, families, and

society. This cost includes involvement with the criminal justice system, homelessness,

unemployment, poorer physical health, hospitalization, and even early death. A recent metaanalysis suggests that major mental diagnoses such as schizophrenia were associated with death

anywhere between seven and 24 years earlier than for individuals without these diagnoses.2

Substance use disorders can cause physical health problems and/or exacerbate existing physical

health problems. For example, cardiovascular complications, including heart attacks and strokes,

are closely related to illicit drug use.3

Though costs are high across all racial and ethnic groups, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)

communities shoulder a disproportionate share, as these communities have some of the highest 

rates of mental illness, substance abuse, and suicide.4 Roughly 23 percent of AI/AN adults

meet criteria for having a mental illness in the past year, compared to 18 percent of all adults.

AI/AN adults are more than twice as likely as all adults to have a mental illness with serious

functional impairment (9 percent AI/AN persons versus 4 percent all adults). Similarly,

1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the National Survey on Drug Use and

Health: Mental Health Findings, NSDUH Series Rockville, MD: Substances Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration, 2014. 2 E. Chesney et al., Risks of all-cause and suicide mortality in mental disorders: a meta-review, World Psychiatry;

2014: 13:1153-160.

3 http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cocaine-Marijuana-and-Other-Drugs_UCM_428537_Article.jsp. 4 Behavioral Health, United States, 2012, http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/2012-BHUS.pdf

3 
AI/AN persons are more than twice as likely to have a substance use disorder than adults in

general (16.9 percent AI/AN persons versus 8.5 percent all adults) and more than twice as likely

to have an alcohol use disorder than adults in general (14.4 percent AI/AN persons versus

7.1 percent all adults).

Behavioral health problems have a powerful negative impact on our economy. Mental and

substance use disorders have higher costs than many other diseases. The World Economic 

Forum estimates that, by the year 2030, mental illnesses and substance use disorders will account

for $6.0 trillion in direct and indirect costs and 35 percent of lost economic output.5 The lost 

economic output due to mental illnesses and substance use disorders is greater than the 

anticipated loss incurred by all cancers (18 percent), diabetes (4 percent) and chronic respiratory

diseases (10 percent) combined.

6 In the United States, the total burden of behavioral health

conditions, including lost earnings/productivity and treatment expenses, is estimated to be nearly

$500 billion per year.7 Adding even more to the economic burden, evidence suggests that

behavioral health conditions also increase the cost of treating common physical disorders. The

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) found that healthcare costs for persons 

diagnosed with mental illness and common chronic conditions were 75 percent higher than those 

without a mental health diagnosis. The cost of care for Medicaid enrollees with common chronic

conditions and co-occurring mental and substance use disorders is two to three times higher than

the cost for Medicaid enrollees without these conditions.8 It is clear, both from a clinical and

financial perspective, that failure to address physical and behavioral health conditions imposes

steep costs on society. Working towards an integrated health system which addresses behavioral 

and physical health problems across settings in a coordinated fashion is a promising strategy to

reform a system that currently allocates health system spending inefficiently.

Despite the clear need for mental and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery

services, access to affordable and appropriate care remains a barrier. The Affordable Care Act,

in conjunction with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), has the 

potential to create or enhance access to coverage for behavioral health services for 62 million

Americans, nearly one-fifth of the nation’s population.9The current behavioral healthcare

infrastructure and workforce, however, will need additional capacity to absorb the influx of

patients with behavioral health needs who now have the coverage to seek treatment.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reported that, as of June 2014, there

were more than 4,000 Mental Health Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the 

5 The Global Economic Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases, World Economic Forum, 2011,

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Harvard_HE_GlobalEconomicBurdenNonCommunicableDiseases_2011.pdf.

6 Bloom, DE, Cafiero, ET, Jané-Llopis, E, Abrahams-Gessel, S, Bloom, LR, Fathima, S, Feigl, AB, et al. (2011).

The Global Economic Burden of Non-communicable Diseases. Geneva: World Economic Forum. 7 TR Insel, Assessing the Costs of Serious Mental Illness, Am J Psychiatry, 2008 June; 165(6): 663-665. Dep’t of

Justice National Drug Threat Assessment 2011The Economic Impact of Illicit Drug Use on American Society, 2011,

U.S. Department ofJustice, http://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs44/44731/44731p.pdf.

8 http://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/medicaid-state-technical-assistance/health-homes-technicalassistance/downloads/bh-briefing-document-1006.pdf 9 http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2013/mental/rb_mental.cfm.

4 
United States, containing nearly a third of the American population (96 million people).10 One

recent study found that more than 75 percent of counties reported shortages of prescribing and

non-prescribing behavioral health professionals, including psychiatrists, social workers, 

counselors, and therapists. Nearly one-third of counties, many in rural areas, lack an outpatient 

mental health center that accepts Medicaid. Many counties also lack substance abuse treatment

facilities that accept Medicaid. Such gaps exacerbate racial, ethnic and geographic disparities in

access to behavioral health care.11 A 2007 SAMHSA analysis of workforce issues noted that

more than 50 percent of U.S. counties in rural areas lack practicing psychiatrists, psychologists, 

or social workers. There is also a lack of racial and ethnic minority providers, which impacts the 

field’s ability to provide culturally and linguistically competent and effective services to racial

and ethnic minority persons seeking care.

In addition to building the behavioral health workforce, there is also a pressing need for more 

accessible and appropriate community crisis systems. In 2010, 2.2 million hospitalizations and

5.3 million emergency department visits involved a diagnosis related to a mental illness.12 In

2011, there were 5.1 million drug-related emergency department visits, of which about one half

(49 percent, or 2.5 million visits) were attributed to drug misuse or abuse. Of those, 1.4 million

visits involved prescription pharmaceuticals, and 1.3 million involved illicit drugs.13 Such services

as 23-hour crisis stabilization, warm lines, peer crisis services, mobile crisis services, shortterm crisis residential services, and community-based crisis follow-up services can help avoid

unnecessary and expensive hospitalization and emergency room visits and provide improved 

outcomes to adults and children with behavioral health conditions. However, many communities

encounter challenges in funding and coordinating these systems. More than half of people with

mental illnesses and 90 percent of people with substance use disorders do not get specialty

care services.

Despite the gaps and needs identified, as a result of the Affordable Care Act and parity protections, 

nearly one-fifth of the American population now has new or enhanced access to coverage for

behavioral health care. In addition, behavioral health has never been more widely discussed than

it is today. High profile tragedies, while devastating, have sparked an unprecedented

conversation about the impact of mental and substance use disorders in America, but this

discourse requires leadership and science to guide it. For more than 22 years, SAMHSA has been

focused on advancing the nation’s behavioral health and reducing the impact of substance abuse 

and mental illness in America’s communities. To guide its work and the national approach

to behavioral health, SAMHSA has developed six strategic initiatives (SIs) for FY 2015 through

FY 2018. These six SIs include prevention of substance abuse and mental illness, health care

and health systems integration, trauma and justice, recovery support, health information

technology, and workforce. Along with SAMHSA’s vision of a nation that knows and acts on 

the knowledge that, behavioral health is essential to health; prevention works;

10 HRSA Data Ware House Shortage Area Summaries, http://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/topics/shortageareas.aspx;

Designated Health Professional Shortage Area Statistics, August 2014. 11 KC Thomas et al. County-Level Estimates of Mental Health Professional Shortage in the United States,

Psychiatric Services, 60:1323–1328, 2009. 12 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2010). Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Custom

data query. Retrieved from http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/.

13 http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k13/DAWN127/sr127-DAWN-highlights.htm.

5 
treatment is effective; and people recover, these six SIs are woven throughout SAMHSA’s policy 

and budget priorities. While each of SAMHSA’s programs is noted as contributing primarily to

one SI, programs typically support the development and advancement of multiple SIs. These

initiatives focus SAMHSA’s efforts and the nation’s resources toward the state of the art in

behavioral health – the most effective and promising programs, practices, policies, data, and

information. 

SAMHSA’s Strategic Budget Framework

SAMHSA’s public health obligation – to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

and the American people – is to ensure that federal behavioral health programs are effective, that

national policies improve systems and services, and that SAMHSA’s leadership improves health

outcomes for people with or at risk for mental and substance use disorders. SAMHSA carries

out its mission through six key roles and activities: leadership and voice; data and surveillance;

practice improvement; strategic grant-making; regulations and guidelines; and public 

awareness/education. Through these activities, SAMHSA helps states, territories, tribes, and

communities promote health and prevent illness, support evidence-based practices, train their

workforce, increase access to treatment, integrate with general health care, advance technology, 

support recovery, and improve Americans’ understanding of behavioral health. As SAMHSA

leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation, SAMHSA strives to

help Americans accept, seek help for, and support people with mental and substance use disorders 

just as they do for people with other health conditions. 

To guide SAMHSA in its leadership role, the strategic plan, Leading Change 2.0: Advancing the

Behavioral Health of the Nation 2015–2018, creates a framework that focuses SAMHSA’s

ongoing work. Leading Change is designed to align SAMHSA’s ongoing portfolio of programs

to increase awareness and understanding about mental and substance use disorders, promote 

emotional health and wellness, prevent substance abuse and mental illness, increase access to

effective treatment, and support recovery.

Emerging public health needs and new developments in health system structure, policy, and

service delivery, require SAMHSA to focus its current resources and expertise on specific areas

of need. Addressing changes and needs in the behavioral health and health fields requires

partnerships across government, improved alignment of programs, and clear focus on the issues.

In FY 2016, SAMHSA is prioritizing its public health leadership role in four specific areas:

strengthening crisis systems, addressing prescription drug and opioid abuse, expanding the 

behavioral health workforce, and fostering tribal behavioral health. These priorities stem from

identified gaps and emerging priorities within the nation’s health promotion, treatment, and

recovery systems. The devastating community consequences of increased opioid misuse,

overdose and overdose death; the structural, financing, and health insurance coverage

improvements through the Affordable Care Act in conjunction with MHPAEA; and an

unprecedented public discourse around behavioral health in America have provided SAMHSA

the opportunity and responsibility to address these issues.

The FY 2016 Budget begins to formalize SAMHSA’s priorities as programmatic budget requests

that are aligned with the priorities in Leading Change 2.0. As such, SAMHSA’s budget

6 
priorities focus on the emerging needs of the nation’s behavioral health system through 

advancing crisis systems; addressing prescription opioid misuse and opioid death prevention

(contributing SAMHSA’s unique capacity in substance abuse prevention and treatment to the 

overall HHS prescription and illicit opioid overdose prevention plan); and improving tribal

substance abuse and mental health programs (especially for suicide prevention and substance

abuse).

It has been 50 years since President Kennedy first challenged government to do more for

individuals with behavioral health conditions. In recent decades, seeking behavioral health

services has become more acceptable and the science that addresses these conditions has

advanced. Mental and substance use disorder treatment has become more mainstream with

advances in neuroscience, medication and services and technologies to engage, treat, and support 

individuals with mental illnesses and/or addictions. Many people receive this treatment within

the general healthcare system allowing the specialty behavioral health system to focus on the 

needs of people with the most severe illnesses and/or addictions. However, even with expanded

access to treatment, more than half of people with mental illnesses and 90 percent of people with

substance use disorders do not get the services they need. The nation can do better.

To address behavioral health as the public health issue that it is, the nation has to raise awareness

and educate universally; invest in infrastructure; create real impact by preventing adverse health

conditions; and ensure the availability of treatment. SAMHSA’s budget request for FY 2016 

moves the needle in all of these areas and takes a public health approach to what has erroneously 

and historically been seen as social or moral issues.

It has been almost two years since President Obama publically released the Now is the Time

initiative assuring individuals with behavioral health issues that they are not alone and providing 

the nation with hope. Behavioral health can and should be addressed as a public health issue by

ensuring that the programs and policies focus on these tenets: behavioral health is essential to

health; prevention works; treatment works; and people recover. By focusing on these principles,

the issues faced by many communities, families and individuals can be addressed successfully.

Improving the behavioral health of the nation requires SAMHSA’s federal leadership and this

Budget Request allows the Agency to address emerging needs and build a cohesive behavioral 

health service system, ultimately fulfilling a 50 year-old promise repeated just two years ago.

Budget Request

SAMHSA’s Budget Request for FY 2016 of $3.7 billion reflects a $44.6 million increase from

the FY 2015 Enacted Level.

Program Increases:

Crisis Systems (+$10.0 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $10.0 million, including $5.0 million in the Mental Health

appropriation and $5.0 million in the Substance Abuse Treatment appropriation, for a new braided

program line entitled Crisis Systems. This represents an increase of $10.0 million from the FY 

2015 Enacted Level. Funding supports the Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts

7 
(ICARE), a demonstration activity to help communities build, fund, and sustain crisis systems

capable of preventing and deescalating behavioral health crises as well as connecting individuals 

and families with needed post-crisis services. In many incidences, responses to these situations

by emergency medical responders and other behavioral health care providers are undercoordinated and un-sustained. These grants will help mitigate the demand for inpatient beds by

those with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders by coordinating effective crisis

response with ongoing outpatient services and supports. As a braided activity, SAMHSA will

track separately any amounts spent or awarded under Crisis Systems through its distinct

appropriation and ensure that funds are used for purposes consistent with legislative direction

and intent of that appropriation. 

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction (+$13.0

million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $25.1 million, an increase of $13.0 million over the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. The increase will be used to support a new activity under the Targeted Capacity

Expansion program entitled Medication Assisted Treatment for Prescription Drug and Opioid 

Addiction. This funding is part of a joint effort by SAMHSA and the Agency for Healthcare

Research and Quality (AHRQ) to improve access to MAT services for treating opioid use 

disorders, with a focus on heroin and prescription opioids. SAMHSA will use this funding to

provide grants to states to support opioid MAT efforts in high-risk communities, to educate, and

to provide technical assistance. States can use this funding to purchase medication to expand

MAT services. This program will increase the number of states from 11 to 22 that receive

funding to expand services that address prescription drug misuse and heroin use in high-risk

communities. This new funding is expected to serve an additional 24 high-risk communities.

Grants to Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose Related Deaths (+$12.0 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $12.0 million for a new program line entitled Grants to Prevent

Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose Related Deaths. This new program will provide grants to 10 

states to reduce significantly the number of opioid overdose-related deaths. Funding will help

states purchase naloxone, equip first responders in high-risk communities, support education on

the use of naloxone and other overdose death prevention strategies, provide the necessary

materials to assemble overdose kits, as well as cover expenses incurred from dissemination

efforts.

Strategic Prevention Framework (+$8.8 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $118.3 million, an increase of $8.8 million from the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. The request includes $10.0 million, new in FY 2016, for the Strategic Prevention

Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF-Rx) program. SPF-Rx will raise public awareness about

the dangers of sharing medications and to work with pharmaceutical and medical communities to

raise awareness on the risks of overprescribing. The FY 2016 SPF program will provide funds to

develop capacity and expertise in the use of data from state prescription drug monitoring programs

to identify communities by geography and high-risk populations (e.g., age group), particularly

those communities that are in need of primary and secondary prevention. In addition, grantees

can use SAMHSA’s resources to provide technical assistance and training on the use of 

SAMHSA’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Tool Kit to help prevent opioid overdose related

deaths. Funding will support up to 20 state planning grants, technical assistance and

8 
evaluation to build capacity to address prescription drug abuse, and overdose prevention efforts,

in conjunction with other state and local partners.

Agency-Wide Initiatives (+$31.0 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $77.7 million for Behavioral Health Workforce, an increase of 

$31.0 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. The request includes a n increase of 

$10.0 million for a new program entitled Peer Professional Workforce Development, which will

award grants to provide tuition support and further the capacity of community colleges to

develop and sustain behavioral health paraprofessional training and education programs,

resulting in 1,200 additional peer professionals in the behavioral health workforce. The request

also includes a $21.0 million increase over the FY 2015 Enacted Level for the SAMHSA-HRSA

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Grant Program to expand the 

behavioral health workforce. The $56.0 million program will support the addition of

approximately 5,600 health professionals to the workforce, an increase of 2,100 individuals over

FY 2015 levels. SAMHSA’s collective workforce efforts will help add several thousand new

professionals to the workforce each year.

Tribal Behavioral Health Grants (+$25.0 million)

The FY 2016 Budget Request for the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant (TBHG) program is

$30.0 million, including $15.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 million in

the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This request represents an increase over the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level of $10.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 million

for a newly established line in the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This funding is

part of Generation Indigenous, a Native youth initiative focused on removing possible barriers to

success for Native youth. This initiative will take a comprehensive, culturally appropriate 

approach to help improve the lives and opportunities for Native youth. In addition to HHS,

multiple agencies, including the Departments of Interior, Education, Housing and Urban

Development, Agriculture, Labor, and Justice, are working collaboratively with tribes to address

issues facing Native youth. This funding will allow SAMHSA to expand activities that are

critical to preventing substance abuse and promoting mental health and resiliency among youth 

in tribal communities. The additional funding will expand these activities to approximately 103 

additional tribes and tribal entities. With the expansion of the TBHG program, SAMHSA aims

to reduce substance use and the incidence of suicide attempts among Native youth and to address

behavioral health conditions which impact learning in Bureau of Indian Education-funded 

schools. The TBHG program will support mental health promotion and substance use prevention 

activities for high-risk Native youth and their families, enhance early detection of mental and

substance use disorders among Native youth, and increase referral to treatment.

Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCASI) (+$20.0 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $20.0 million to provide grants to behavioral health and primary

care providers to integrate substance abuse treatment services and primary care. Individuals with

substance use disorders are at risk for co-occurring health conditions. Several cardiovascular

complications such as heart attack, heart failure, and stroke are closely related to cocaine use.

Alcohol use is a major risk factor for many conditions including chronic hypertension, obesity 

and diabetes. In addition, individuals with other chronic health issues may develop substance

abuse problems due to self-medication. Not only do people with substance use disorders 

9 
experience health disparities in morbidity and mortality, Medicare and Medicaid cost data tell us 

that for people with multiple chronic conditions, costs are exponentially higher when one of 

those conditions is a substance use disorder.14, 15 The goal of this program is to improve the

health of people with substance use disorders though coordinated and integrated primary care

services in community substance abuse treatment settings. Through PCASI, integrated teams of 

professionals will be able to provide needed primary care services to individuals seeking care for

a substance use disorder (SUD), with the objective of improving health outcomes, enhancing the 

experience of care, and reducing the cost of care by controlling physical healthcare costs.

SAMHSA expects that PCASI will complement the successful Primary and Behavioral Health

Care Integration (PBHCI) grant program by promoting integrated services for individuals with

SUDs and using lessons learned from PBHCI.

Health Surveillance (+$2.2 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $49.4 million, an increase of $2.2 million from the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. This additional funding supports the President’s Now is the Time initiative.

Specifically, this funding will be used for a new initiative, Science of Changing Social Norms:

Building the Evidence, to measure and track attitudes, behaviors and community norms

regarding mental health and substance abuse. These data will enable SAMHSA to understand 

more fully the impact of social messaging, improve social acceptance of people with mental and

substance use disorders; expand understanding of the health, economic, and social impact of 

untreated behavioral health conditions; increase the willingness of Americans to seek help for

these issues; and help Americans see behavioral health as a public health priority. The Science

of Changing Social Norms will have a second component, Social Media, funded from Public 

Awareness and Support. 

Public Awareness and Support ($+2.1 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $15.6 million, an increase of $2.1 million from the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. These funds will support the President’s Now is the Time initiative and allow

SAMHSA to continue to streamline our web presence, develop innovative mobile apps, expand 

SAMHSA’s presence on social media, and provide other critical resources to support behavioral 

health and other health. SAMHSA will use $2.0 million to support the Science of Changing 

Social Norms, to develop and test an array of messages designed to improve social acceptance of 

people with mental and substance use disorders; expand understanding of the health, economic,

and social impact of untreated behavioral health conditions; increase the willingness of 

Americans to seek help for these issues; and help Americans see behavioral health as a public 

health priority.

14 Druss, B. g., & Rosenheck. R. A. (1999). Patterns of health care costs associated with depression and substance

abuse in a national sample. Psychiatric Services, 50, 214-218

15 Kathol, R. G., McAlpine, D., Kishi, Y., Speies, R., Meller, W., Bernhardt, T., et al. (2005). General medical and

pharmacy claims expenditures in users of behavioral health services. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 20, 160- 

167.

10 
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Veterans’ Families (+$4.0 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $4.0 million to expand the Mental Health First Aid program to

reach 55,000 more people. This request will provide MHFA training to individuals who work

with veterans, military service members and their families.

Grants for Adult Trauma Screening and Brief Response (GATSBR) (+$2.9 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $2.9 million, an increase of $2.9 million from the FY 2015 

Enacted Level to implement GATSBR. The program will facilitate and evaluate the impact of 

appropriate trauma screening and responses in primary care in order to further advance the 

nation’s understanding of the need for, and complexity of, addressing trauma in non-behavioral 

health settings. SAMHSA, in consultation with its federal partners, is developing the concept

and design for these grants.

Suicide Prevention: National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (+$2.0 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $4.0 million, an increase of $2.0 million over the FY 2015 Enacted

Level. This increase will expand support so states can further establish evidence-based suicide 

prevention efforts that support the goals and objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide 

Prevention. 

Program Support (+$7.6 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $79.6 million for Program Support, a one-time $7.6 million increase

from the FY 2015 Enacted Level in the Heath Surveillance and Program Support Appropriation.

The funding request covers the additional costs associated with the move to 5600 Fishers Lane in

FY 2016 including extending the current building lease, the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS)

loan repayment program, and security charges as part of government-wide efforts to reduce longterm rent and utility costs though reductions in per person space use and periodic re-evaluation

of competing lease offers.

Program Decreases:

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (-$23.9 million)

The FY 2016 Budget requests $28.0 million for Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration

(PBHCI), a $23.9 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. This funding will continue 

to support the coordination and integration of primary care services into publicly-funded 

community behavioral health settings. PBHCI grantees have made great strides in demonstrating

methods of integrating physical health care into specialty behavioral health settings for people 

with serious mental illnesses. This learning is being incorporated into SAMHSA guidance to the 

states around the block grants, SAMHSA’s consultation on the Medicaid health homes program,

implementation of the section 223 program, and into a broader focus on integration across

SAMHSA’s grant portfolio. 

Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (-$16.9 million) 

The FY 2016 Budget requests $30.0 million for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to

Treatment (SBIRT), a $16.9 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding will

support 49 grant continuations (three five-year state SBIRT and 46 three-year Medical

11 
Professional Training grants), 13 new Medical Professional Training grants, and four contracts to

continue to integrate SBIRT into general medical and primary care settings. This reduction will

not result in the termination of any grants. Funding is requested to continue to support the

coordination and integration of primary care services into publicly-funded community behavioral

health settings. With the increasing adoption of SBIRT in healthcare settings, the Budget 

redirects resources to other substance abuse treatment activities, such as heroin and prescription

drug abuse treatment.

Access to Recovery ($-38.2 million) 

SAMHSA is proposing eliminating the Access to Recovery (ATR) program in FY 2016. Many

of the clinical services provided under ATR will now be covered by public and private insurance.

In addition, states are able to support recovery support services and client choice with Substance 

Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funding. Since 2004, ATR has served over 650,000 

clients through 75 grantees. SAMHSA has been able to identify successful substance abuse

treatment and recovery-oriented systems of care models and will continue to offer technical

assistance to states that would like to continue this activity.

Criminal Justice Activities (-$16.1 million) 

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $61.9 million, a decrease of $16.1 million from the FY 2015

Enacted Level. This reduction will not result in the termination of any grants. As a result of

multi-year funding of FY 2014 grants, these funds will still provide sufficient support to existing

sites/programs at each of the current grantees receiving continuations, as well as new grants in

the Drug Court and ORP programs. SAMHSA plans to support 136 grant continuations consisting

of 109 Drug Court and 27 ORP grant continuations, Ex-Offender Reentry grants, five contract

continuations, approximately 41 new Drug Court grants, and two new contracts. These programs

will continue to provide comprehensive treatment and recovery support services for adolescents

and adults with substance use disorders coming into contact with the criminal justice system as

well as offenders re-entering the community. SAMHSA proposes to focus this portfolio more

strategically to explore new approaches and a variety of models within the drug court umbrella

rather than using a significant portion of SAMHSA’s limited funding to support what is already

a robust system.

Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (-$1.0 million)

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes $8.1 million, a decrease of $1.0 million from the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. Funding will support grant continuations to continue to disseminate evidencebased, promising practices to addiction treatment/recovery professionals, public health/mental

health personnel, institutional and community corrections professionals, and other related

disciplines. With the ongoing success of the ATTC program, the Budget redirects resources to

other substance abuse treatment activities such as technical assistance specific to heroin and

prescription drug abuse treatment.

12 
Braided Programs

(Dollars in thousands)

Braided Programs

FY 2016

Request

Crisis Systems $10,000

Mental Health: Crisis Systems: Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE) (non-add) 5,000

Substance Abuse Treatment: Crisis Systems: Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE) (non-add) 5,000

TribalBehavioral Health Grants $30,000

Mental Health: Tribal Behavioral Health Grants (non-add) 15,000

Substance Abuse Prevention: Tribal Behavioral Health Grants (non-add) 15,000

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes two new braided programs that draw on funds from the 

Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Substance Abuse Treatment appropriations. As

a braided program, SAMHSA will track these activities through their distinct appropriations and

any amounts spent or awarded and will only be used for purposes consistent with legislative

direction and intent of the appropriation. The braided programs include the new programs, Crisis

Systems and Tribal Behavioral Health Grants, described below. 

• $10.0 million, including $5.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $5.0 million

in the Substance Abuse Treatment appropriation, for a new braided program line entitled

Crisis Systems. This represents an increase of $10.0 million from the FY 2015 Enacted

Level. Funding supports the Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE), a 

demonstration activity to help communities build, fund, and sustain crisis systems capable

of preventing and deescalating behavioral health crises as well as connecting

individuals and families with needed post-crisis services. In many incidences, responses 

to these situations by emergency medical responders and other behavioral health care

providers are under-coordinated and un-sustained. These grants will help mitigate the 

demand for inpatient beds by those with serious mental illnesses and substance use 

disorders by coordinating effective crisis response with ongoing outpatient services and

supports. As a braided activity, SAMHSA will track separately any amounts spent or

awarded under Crisis Systems through its distinct appropriation and ensure that funds are

used for purposes consistent with legislative direction and intent of that appropriation. 

• $30.0 million, including $15.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 

million in the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This request represents an

increase over the FY 2015 Enacted Level of $10.0 million in the Mental Health

appropriation and $15.0 million for a newly established line in the Substance Abuse 

Prevention appropriation. This funding is part of Generation Indigenous, a Native youth 

initiative focused on removing possible barriers to success for Native youth. This initiative

will take a comprehensive, culturally appropriate approach to help improve the lives and

opportunities for Native youth. In addition to HHS, multiple agencies, including the 

Departments of Interior, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture,

Labor, and Justice, are working collaboratively with tribes to address issues facing Native

youth. This funding will allow SAMHSA to expand activities that are critical to

preventing substance abuse and promoting mental health and resiliency among youth in

tribal communities. The additional funding will expand these activities to

13 
approximately 103 additional tribes and tribal entities. With the expansion of the TBHG

program, SAMHSA aims to reduce substance use and the incidence of suicide attempts

among Native youth and to address behavioral health conditions which impact learning in

Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools. The TBHG program will support mental

health promotion and substance use prevention activities for high-risk Native youth and

their families, enhance early detection of mental and substance use disorders among

Native youth, and increase referral to treatment.

14 
Overview of Performance

Consistent with the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010, the

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) continues to refine its

use of performance and evaluation data to measure impact and mitigate risk. Data-driven 

performance reviews help SAMHSA leadership analyze outcome data and identify areas for

improvement. As impact is measured and reported, SAMHSA seeks to identify the conditions 

that foster success, address barriers, collaborate across programs, and promote overall efficiency.

SAMHSA’s performance measures are included in 12 HHS 2014-2018 Strategic Plan goals and

objectives, HHS’ FY 2016 Annual Performance Plan and Report, as well as HHS’ Strategic

Reviews. SAMHSA continues to participate in an HHS priority goal to reduce cigarette smoking, 

is co-leading the HHS internal priority goal about childhood trauma, and provides leadership

in response to urgent situations across the country, such as disaster relief. These activities

help advance the nation’s behavioral health by influencing the risks and contributing factors

associated with substance abuse and mental illness in communities under stress.

As part of HHS’s Program Integrity Initiative, SAMHSA is using performance data to advance

agency priorities. For example, SAMHSA adapted an existing review process to include the use 

of progress reports in making funding decisions. In addition, SAMHSA is currently working 

across the agency to develop an enterprise reporting system capable of linking program

performance with financial performance data with plans to identify outliers in both domains for

further review and follow-up. The enterprise reporting system – the Common Data Platform

(CDP) – is designed to integrate disparate data sources into a single centralized system. Such

integration will streamline performance reporting and management, validate data quality, link

different data sources, and promote evidence-based decision-making. The CDP will enable

SAMHSA to analyze program data more quickly and use that data to inform program direction,

resources, and policies.

As SAMHSA strengthens its data analysis capacity, it also seeks opportunities to improve data

collection. Efforts are being made to streamline and reduce reporting burden while enhancing

access and use of available data to more carefully target areas in need of improvement without 

overburdening grantees or SAMHSA’s infrastructure.

15 
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16 
Discretionary All-Purpose Table Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2016 

Program Activities Final Enacted President's 

Budget

+/- 

FY 2015

Now is the Time Presidential Initiatives Mental Health:

Project AWARE $54,865 $54,865 $54,865 $---

Project AWARE State Grants (non-add) 39,902 39,902 39,902 ---

Mental Health First Aid (non-add) 14,963 14,963 14,963 ---

Healthy Transitions 19,951 19,951 19,951 ---

Health Surveillance and Program Support:

Health Surveillance --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Science Of Changing Social Norms: Building the Evidence Base (non-add) --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Public Awareness and Support --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Science Of Changing Social Norms: Social Media (non-add) --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Behavioral Health Workforce 40,160 41,246 72,246 +31,000

Minority Fellowship Program Expansion - Youth (non-add) 5,246 5,246 5,246 ---

SAMHSA-HRSA BHWET Grant Program (non-add) 34,914 35,000 56,000 +21,000

Peer Professional Workforce Development (non-add) --- --- 10,000 +10,000

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development (non-add) --- 1,000 1,000 ---

Total, 1 (information only – amounts included below) 114,976 116,062 151,062 +35,000

Mental Health:

Programs of Regional and National Significance 377,315 370,538 377,289 +6,751

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 12,000 12,000 38,000 +26,000

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 5,000 +5,000

Children's Mental Health Services 117,026 117,026 117,026 ---

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness 64,635 64,635 64,635 ---

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness 36,146 36,146 36,146 ---

Community Mental Health Services Block Grant 482,571 482,571 482,571 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 21,039 21,039 21,039 ---

Total, Mental Health 1,077,693 1,070,916 1,077,667 +6,751

Substance Abuse Prevention:

Programs of Regional and National Significance 175,129 175,148 210,918 +35,770

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 16,468 +16,468

Total, Substance Abuse Prevention 175,129 175,148 210,918 +35,770

Substance Abuse Treatment:

Programs of Regional and National Significance 360,698 361,463 320,701 -40,762

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 50,000 --- --- ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 2,000 2,000 30000 +28,000

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant 1,815,443 1,819,856 2,140,557 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 79,200 79,200 79,200 ---

Total, Substance Abuse Treatment 2,176,141 2,181,319 2,140,557 -40,762

Health Surveillance and Program Support:

Health Surveillance and Program Support: 119,260 119,260 128,987 +9,727

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) --- --- 20,000 +20,000

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 30,428 30,428 29,428 -1,000

Public Awareness and Support 13,482 13,482 15,571 +2,089

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 15,571 +15,571

Performance and Quality Information Systems 12,918 12,918 12,918 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 12,918 +12,918

Agency-W ide Initiatives 45,583 46,669 77,669 +31,000

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- 1,000 1,000 ---

Data Request/Publications User Fees 1,500 1,500 1,500 ---

Total, Health Surveillance/Program Support 192,743 193,829 236,645 +42,816

TOTAL, SAMHS A Discretionary PL 3,621,706 3,621,212 3,665,787 +44,575

Less PHS Evaluation Funds 132,667 133,667 210,624 +76,957

Less Prevention and Public Health Funds 62,000 12,000 58,000 +46,000

Less Data Request and Publications User Fees 1,500 1,500 1,500 ---

TOTAL, S AMHS A Budget Authority $3,425,539 $3,474,045 $3,395,663 -$78,382 

FTEs 615 665 665 ---

1 A total of $115 million in FY 2014, $116.1 million in FY 2015 and $151.1 million requested in FY 2016 to address the behavioral health needs of transition age youth and their families in

the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

2 The Minority Fellowship Program budgets from the Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment appropriations have been comparably adjusted in this table to be in line with

the FY 2016 Request and are reflected in the Health Surveillance and Program Support Appropriation under the Agency-Wide Initiatives Workforce program. 

17 
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18 
NOW IS THE TIME

The Administration’s plan to protect our children and our communities by reducing gun violence 

and increasing access to mental health services.

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activities

FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/-

FY 2015

Now is the Time Presidential Initiatives

Mental Health:

Project AWARE $54,865 $54,865 $54,865 $---

Project AWARE State Grants (non-add) 39,902 39,902 39,902 ---

Mental Health First Aid (non-add) 14,963 14,963 14,963 ---

HealthyTransitions 19,951 19,951 19,951 ---

Health Surveillance andProgram Support: ---

Health Surveillance --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Science of Changing Social Norms: Building the Evidence (non-add) --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Public Awareness andSupport --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Science of Changing Social Norms: Social Media (non-add) --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Behavioral Health Workforce 40,160 41,246 72,246 +31,000

Minority Fellowship Program Expansion – Youth (non-add) 5,246 5,246 5,246 ---

SAMHSA-HRSA BHWET Grant Program (non-add) 34,914 35,000 56,000 +21,000

Peer Professional Workforce Development (non-add) --- --- 10,000 +10,000

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development (non-add) --- 1,000 1,000 ---

TOTAL $114,976 $116,062 $151,062 +$35,000

Authorizing Legislation .......................Sections 501, 505 and 520A the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities.......................................................................State and Local Education Agencies,

Local Governmental Entities, Community Organizations and Provider Organizations 

SAMHSA’s Now is the Time activities support the President’s plan, in response to the tragedy at

Sandy Hook Elementary School, to improve access to mental health services for young people. 

SAMHSA-supported activities under this initiative are helping teachers and other adults who

interact with youth recognize signs of mental illness, improve referrals and access to mental

health services for young people ages 16 to 25. In addition, SAMHSA is funding the training of 

thousands of more behavioral health professionals with a focus on serving students and young 

adults. The Budget requests $151.1 million for Now is the Time. This is a $35.0 million increase

over the FY 2015 Enacted Level of $116.0 million. The FY 2016 Budget Request includes an

increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level for:

• $21.0 million over the FY 2015 Enacted Level to expand the behavioral health

workforce. The $56.0 million SAMHSA-HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education

and Training (BHWET) Grant program will award a total 192 grants, an increase of 72

grants over FY 2015, and will support the addition of approximately 5,600 health

professionals to the workforce, an increase of 2,100 individuals over FY 2015 levels.

• $10.0 million for the Peer Professional Workforce Development program, which will

award grants to provide tuition support and further the capacity of community colleges to

develop and sustain behavioral health paraprofessional training and education programs,

resulting in 1,200 additional peer professionals in the behavioral health workforce; and

19 
• $4.0 million for a new initiative, Science of Changing Social Norms, which includes two

components: Building the Evidence, to measure and track attitudes, behaviors and

community norms regarding mental health and substance abuse; and Social Norms, to

develop and test an array of messages. The data and messages will enable SAMHSA to

understand more fully the impact of social messaging, improve social acceptance of

people with mental and substance use disorders; expand understanding of the health,

economic, and social impact of untreated behavioral health conditions; increase the

willingness of Americans to seek help for these issues; and help Americans see

behavioral health as a public health priority.

Project AWARE

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs ofRegional & NationalSignificance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Project AWARE $54,865 $54,865 $54,865 $---

Project AWAREStateGrants(non-add) 39,902 39,902 39,902 ---

MentalHealthFirst Aid (non-add) 14,963 14,963 14,963 ---

Authorizing Legislation......... Sections 501, 509, 516, and 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities.......................................................................State and Local Education Agencies,

Local Governmental Entities, Community Organizations and Provider Organizations 

Community Colleges, Networks, States, National Non-Profit Organizations

States and Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided $54.9 million to support Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness

and Resilience in Education) to increase awareness of mental health issues and connect young 

people with behavioral health issues and their families with needed services. SAMHSA

partnered with the Departments of Education and Justice in the development, implementation,

and management of this initiative to maximize coordination and avoid duplication of efforts.

Project AWARE is composed of two components: Project AWARE State Educational Agency

Grants ($39.9 million) built on the highly successful Safe Schools/Healthy Students Model, 

which is intended to create safe and supportive schools and communities. SAMHSA awarded

these grants to 20 State Educational Agencies (SEAs) to promote comprehensive, coordinated, 

and integrated state efforts to make schools safer and increase access to mental health services.

The second component, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), supports widespread dissemination of 

the MHFA curriculum. The MHFA curriculum prepares teachers and other individuals who

work with youth to help schools and communities to understand, recognize, and respond to signs

of mental illness or substance abuse in children and youth, including how to talk to adolescents

20 
and families experiencing these problems so that they are more willing to seek treatment. The

target for the first year of the program is 750,000 individuals trained or served.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded 20 Project AWARE SEA awards and 100 Local Educational 

Agencies (LEAs) multi-year awards to grantees who applied for Department of Education School 

Climate Change awards. The project period for Project AWARE awards is four years and the 

project period for MHFA awards is two years. In addition, SAMHSA will make 68 new MHFA

awards to community organizations serving youth and families.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2014 $54,865,000

FY 2015 $54,865,000

FY 2016 $54,865,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $54.9 million at the program level. This is equal to the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to support third year continuation funding to the 20 

SEA AWARE grantees and up to 68 MHFA continuation grant awards. In addition this funding 

supports NITT technical assistance and evaluation contracts.

Healthy Transitions

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs ofRegional & NationalSignificance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Healthy Transitions $19,951 $19,951 $19,951 $---

Authorizing Legislation........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act FY 2016 

Authorization ........................................................................................................................Expired

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities...................................................................................................... States and Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided $20.0 million to support five-year grants to 17 states to improve

access to mental health treatment and related support services for youth and young adults ages 16 

to 25 that either have, or are at risk of developing, a serious mental health condition. Individuals 

who are 16 to 25 years old are at high-risk of developing a mental illness or substance use 

disorder and are at high-risk for suicide. Unfortunately, these youth are among the least likely to

seek help. As a result, they may not receive the help they need to assume safe and productive 

adult roles and responsibilities. In this program, states are expanding services, developing family

and youth networks for information sharing and peer support, and disseminating best practices

for services to these young individuals. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will provide support for 17 NITT

21 
- Healthy Transition continuation grants and the NITT technical assistance and evaluation

contracts.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2014 $19,951,000

FY 2015 $19,951,000

FY 2016 $19,951,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $20.0 million. This is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level.

SAMHSA requests funding to support third year continuation funding for the 17 NITT Healthy

Transition grantees. In addition this funding supports NITT technical assistance and evaluation

contracts.

Science of Changing Social Norms

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/-

FY 2015

Science of Changing Social Norms --- --- $4,000 +$4,000

Science of Changing Social Norms: Building 

the Evidence (non-add)

--- --- 2,000 +2,000

Science of Changing Social Norms: Social 

Media (non-add) --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Authorizing Legislation............................. Sections 501 and 505 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities...........................................................................................................................N/A 

Program Description

SAMHSA is proposing a new initiative, the Science of Changing Social Norms to support the 

President’s Now is the Time initiative.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $4,000,000

22 
Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes $4.0 million to support a new initiative, the Science of 

Changing Social Norms. The program is comprised of two components. A total of $2.0 million

in Health Surveillance funds will support the Science of Changing Social Norms: Building the 

Evidence, to measure and track attitudes, behaviors and community norms regarding mental

health and substance abuse. A total of $2.0 million in Public Awareness and Support funds will

support the Science of Changing Social Norms: Social Media, to develop and test an array of 

messages.

The messages and data will enable SAMHSA to understand more fully the impact of social

messaging; improve social acceptance of people with mental and substance use disorders; expand 

understanding of the health, economic, and social impact of untreated behavioral health

conditions; increase the willingness of Americans to seek help for these issues; and help

Americans see behavioral health as a public health priority.

Behavioral Health Workforce

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/-

FY 2015

Behavioral Health Workforce $40,160 $41,246 $72,246 +$31,000

Minority Fellowship Program Expansion –

Youth (non-add)

5,246 5,246 5,246 ---

SAMHSA-HRSA BHWET Grant Program 

(non-add)

34,914 35,000 56,000 +21,000

Peer Professional Workforce Development

(non-add)

--- --- 10,000 +10,000

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and

Development (non-add)

--- 1,000 1,000 ---

Authorizing Legislation........... Section 501, 509, 516, and 520A of the Public Health Service Act FY 

2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities........................... Community Colleges, Networks, States, National Organizations

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA’s workforce activities help train additional behavioral health professionals to work

with students and young adults with mental illnesses and other behavioral health problems.

Specifically, the FY 2015 Enacted Level included $5.3 million for SAMHSA’s Minority 

Fellowship Program, $35.0 million for a jointly administered activity with HRSA, the Behavioral

Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Grant Program, and $1.0 million for

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development. These programs are described below.

23 
Minority Fellowship Program Expansion - Youth (MFP-Y) and Addiction Counselors

(MFP-AC)

In FY 2014, funding was provided to expand the focus of the current MFP to support master’s

level trained behavioral health providers in the fields of psychology, social work, professional 

counseling, marriage and family therapy, and nursing. This expansion of the four-year program

is called the Minority Fellowship Program-Youth (MFP-Y). The purpose of this grant program

is to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health care outcomes for racially and

ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent master’s level

behavioral health professionals serving children, adolescents, and populations in transition to

adulthood (aged 16 to 25) in an effort to increase access to, and the quality of, behavioral health

care for this age group. MFP-Y uses the existing infrastructure of the MFP to expand the focus

of the program to support 960 master’s level trained behavioral health providers in the fields of 

psychology, social work, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, and nursing.

Funding supports stipends to graduate students to increase the number of culturally competent

behavioral health professionals who provide direct mental health and/or co-occurring substance 

abuse services to underserved minority populations. 

In addition, in FY 2014, funding was provided to expand the focus of the current MFP to support 

master’s level addiction counselors (MFP-AC). The purpose of this four-year grant program is

to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health care outcomes for racially and

ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent master’s level

addiction counselors available to underserved minority populations with a specific focus on 

transition age youth (ages 16 to 25) in public and private non-profit sectors. MFP-AC grants will

support students pursuing master’s level degrees in addiction/substance abuse counseling. The

MFP-AC grants support graduate student stipends to increase the number of masters-level

addiction counselors across the nation by approximately 300 counselors. Funds also supported 

evaluation and technical assistance for these grantees.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2014 $5,246,000

FY 2015 $5,246,000

FY 2016 $5,246,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes $5.2 million, which is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted

Level. This funding will provide continued support for two MFP-Y, two MFP-AC grants, and

three technical assistance and evaluation support contracts.

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and

Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 will extend federal parity protections to over 60 

24 
million Americans—among them, over 30 million will gain coverage that includes mental health

and substance use disorder treatment, and an additional 30 million who already have some 

coverage of these services will see their coverage enhanced.16 These estimates take into account

the states’ decisions on whether to participate in the expansion of Medicaid.

As of June 2014, there were more than 4,000 Mental Health, Health Professional Shortage Areas

(HPSAs) in the United States, containing nearly a third of the American population (96 million

people). Recent data indicate that almost 90 percent of persons with substance use disorders do 

not receive the services they need and over half of those with mental disorders do not receive

needed treatment.

The President’s Now is the Time initiative, supports new activities to expand the behavioral

health workforce. In FY 2015, the new workforce investments provide support for approximately

3,500 new behavioral health professionals. To ensure the existing workforce investments are

achieving desired outcomes, SAMHSA workforce activities in FY 2015 include 

$1.0 million within the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) to partner 

with HRSA on the Behavioral Health Minimum Data Set to develop consistent data collection

methods to identify and track behavioral health workforce needs. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will

continue to work with HRSA to develop a consistent and common data set and to develop clear

goals and objectives to meet the national behavioral health workforce needs in America.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 $1,000,000

FY 2016 $1,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes level funding of $1.0 million from the FY 2015 Enacted

Level to develop a consistent and common data set and to develop clear goals and objectives to

meet the national behavioral health workforce needs in America with HRSA.

Peer Professional Workforce Development

The Peer Professional Workforce Development program’s goal is to increase the number of 

trained peers, recovery coaches, mental health/addiction specialists, prevention specialists, and

pre-masters-level addiction counselors working with youth ages 16 to 25. Because they have 

lived through their own experience with behavioral health conditions, the entry-level providers 

supported by this program will play a significant role in the delivery of prevention, outreach and

engagement, and recovery support services. Evidence has found that people who regularly 

16 Beronio K, Glied S, Frank R. How the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

Greatly Expand Coverage of Behavioral Health Care. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 41:4,

October 2014.

25 
engage in peer-delivered interventions are more likely to abstain from substance abuse. The Peer

Professional Workforce Development program will focus on helping communities develop the 

infrastructure to train and certify peers, or people with personal experiences with mental illness

and/or substance use conditions as behavioral health providers. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $10,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes $10 million for the new Peer Professionals Workforce 

Development program, which will award up to 19 grants to provide tuition support and further 

the capacity of community colleges to develop and sustain behavioral health paraprofessional

training and education programs, resulting in 1,200 additional peer professionals in the

behavioral health workforce.

SAMHSA-HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Grant

Program

In FY 2014, SAMHSA and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

collaborated on the BHWET Grant Program. The purpose of this program is to increase the 

clinical service capacity of the behavioral health workforce by supporting training for masterslevel social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, psychology doctoral interns,

as well as behavioral health paraprofessionals. In FY 2014, the grant program provided 

approximately 120 awards to organizations nationwide and SAMHSA’s FY 2015 Budget 

Request included continued funding in the amount of $35.0 million to maintain this effort. The

SAMHSA-HRSA BHWET grant program will help increase the behavioral health workforce by

3,500 individuals each year.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2014 $34,914,000

FY 2015 $35,000,000

FY 2016 $56,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes $56.0 million, an increase of $21.0 million over the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level to expand the behavioral health workforce. The program will award a 

total of 192 grants, an increase of 72 grants over FY 2015, and will support the addition of

26 
approximately 5,600 health professionals to the workforce, an increase of 2,100 individuals over

FY 2015 levels. SAMHSA’s collective workforce efforts will help add several thousand new

professionals to the workforce each year.

27 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Now is the Time

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 president's Budget.

Measure

Result /Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY

2016

Target

FY

2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

3.2.18 Number of children served. (Output) FY 2015: Result

Expected Dec 31, 2015

750,000 750,000 Maintain

Target: 750,000

(Pending)

3.2.34 Percentage of clients receiving services

who report positive functioning at 6 month

follow-up. (Outcome)

FY 2014: 65.5

Target:64.0 % 

(Target Exceeded)

1 64.0 % 64.0 % Maintain

3.2.36 Percentage of clients receiving services 

who are currently employed at 6 month follow-up

(Outcome) 

FY 2014: 55.7 %

Target:56.0 % 

(Target Not Met)

2 56.0 % 56.0 % Maintain

4.4.20 Increase the Minority Fellowship

awards (Outcome)

FY 2015: Result

Expected Dec 31, 2015

Target:1,260

(Pending)

1,260 1,260 Maintain

4.4.21 Increase the Peer Professional

Workforce (Outcome)

FY 2015: Result

Expected Dec 31, 2015

Target:1,200

(Pending)

1,200 1,200 Maintain

4.4.22 Increase Behavioral Health

Workforce Education and Training

(Outcome)

FY 2015: Result

Expected Dec 31,2015

Target:3,500

(Pending)

3,500 5,600 Maintain

1, 2 The 2013 result is a baseline and does not represent actual program activity. SAMHSA used results from the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS)

State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Program to derive a baseline to use for the new 2014 Healthy Transitions Program. The GLS program was used

because this program focused on the same age cohort.

28 
SAMHSA

Budget Exhibits

Table of Contents

SAMHSA/Budget Exhibits

1. Appropriations Language.................................................................................................. 31

2. Language Analysis............................................................................................................ 34

3. Amounts Available for Obligation.................................................................................... 38

4. Summary of Changes ........................................................................................................ 39

5. Budget Authority by Activity ........................................................................................... 40

6. Authorizing Legislation .................................................................................................... 41

7. Appropriations History...................................................................................................... 43

8. Appropriations Not Authorized by Law ........................................................................... 45

29 
Page intentionally left blank

30 
Appropriations Language

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

MENTAL HEALTH

For carrying out titles III, V, and XIX of the PHS Act with respect to mental health, and the

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act, [$1,045,936,000]

$1,013,628,000: Provided, That notwithstanding section 520A(f)(2) of the PHS Act, no funds 

appropriated for carrying out section 520A shall be available for carrying out section 1971 of the 

PHS Act: Provided further, That in addition to amounts provided herein, [$21,039,000]

$26,039,000 shall be available under section 241 of the PHS Act to supplement funds otherwise 

available for mental health activities and to carry out subpart I of part B of title XIX of the PHS

Act to fund section 1920(b) technical assistance, national data, data collection and evaluation

activities, and further that the total available under this Act for section 1920(b) activities shall not

exceed 5 percent of the amounts appropriated for subpart I of part B of title XIX: Provided 

further, That section 520E(b)(2) of the PHS Act shall not apply to funds appropriated in this Act

for fiscal year [2015] 2016: [Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this

heading, $45,887,000 shall be for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative as described in

section 582 of the PHS Act:] Provided further, That notwithstanding section 565(b)(1) of the 

PHS Act, technical assistance may be provided to a public entity to establish or operate a system

of comprehensive community mental health services to children with a serious emotional

disturbance, without regard to whether the public entity receives a grant under section 561(a) of 

such Act: Provided further, That States shall expend at least 5 percent of the amount each

receives for carrying out section 1911 of the PHS Act to support evidence-based [programs that] 

mental health prevention and treatment practices to address the needs of individuals with early

31 
serious mental illness, including psychotic disorders, regardless of the age of the individual at

onset: Provided further, That none of the funds provided for section 1911 of the PHS Act shall

be subject to section 241 of such Act. (Department of Health and Human Services

Appropriations Act, 2015.)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT

For carrying out titles III[,] and V[, and XIX] of the PHS Act with respect to substance abuse 

treatment and [section 1922(a) of the PHS Act] title XIX of such Act with respect to substance 

abuse treatment and prevention, [$2,102,658,000] $2,031,357,000: Provided, That in addition to

amounts provided herein, [the following amounts] $109,200,000 shall be available under section

241 of the PHS Act[: (1) $79,200,000] to supplement funds otherwise available for substance

abuse treatment activities and to carry out subpart II of part B of title XIX of the PHS Act to

fund section 1935(b) technical assistance, national data, data collection and evaluation activities,

and further that the total available under this Act for section 1935(b) activities shall not exceed 5 

percent of the amounts appropriated for subpart II of part B of title XIX[; and (2) $2,000,000 to

evaluate substance abuse treatment programs]: Provided further, That none of the funds provided 

for section 1921 of the PHS Act shall be subject to section 241 of such Act. (Department of

Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2015.)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION

For carrying out titles III and V of the PHS Act with respect to substance abuse prevention, 

[$175,219,000] $194,450,000: Provided, That i n addition to amounts provided herein,

$16,468,000 shall be available under section 241 of the PHS Act to supplement funds otherwise 

available for substance abuse prevention activities. (Department of Health and Human Services

Appropriations Act, 2015.)

32 
HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AND PROGRAM SUPPORT

For program support and cross-cutting activities that supplement activities funded under the 

headings "Mental Health", "Substance Abuse Treatment", and "Substance Abuse Prevention" in

carrying out titles III, V, and XIX of the PHS Act and the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals 

with Mental Illness Act in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,

[$150,232,000] $156,228,000: Provided, That in addition to amounts provided herein,

[$31,428,000] $58,917,000 shall be available under section 241 of the PHS Act to

supplement funds available to carry out national surveys on drug abuse and mental health, to

collect and analyze program data, and to conduct public awareness and technical assistance

activities: Provided further, That, in addition, fees may be collected for the costs of publications, 

data, data tabulations, and data analysis completed under title V of the PHS Act and provided to

a public or private entity upon request, which shall be credited to this appropriation and shall

remain available until expended for such purposes: Provided further, That amounts made

available in this Act for carrying out section 501(m) of the PHS Act shall remain available

through September 30, [2016] 2017: Provided further, That funds made available under this

heading may be used to supplement program support funding provided under the headings

"Mental Health", "Substance Abuse Treatment", and "Substance Abuse Prevention": Provided 

further, That the Administrator may transfer funds between any of the accounts of SAMHSA with

notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 15 days in

advance of any transfer, but no such account shall be decreased by more than 3 percent by any 

such transfer. (Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2015.)

33 
Language Analysis

Language Provision Explanation

Provided further, That in addition to amounts 

provided herein, [$21,039,000] $26,039,000 

shall be available under section 241 of the PHS

Act to supplement funds otherwise available 

for mental health activities and to carry out 

subpart I of part B of title XIX of the PHS Act

to fund section 1920(b) technical assistance,

national data, data collection and evaluation

activities,

Sets the amount of Public Health Service Act

Evaluation Fund dollars allocated to

supplement the budget authority for programs

and activities authorized under title XIX as well

as under titles III and V. This change would 

allow PHS Evaluation funds to be used to fund

the Tribal Behavioral Health Grants in addition

to activities supported in FY 2015. 

Provided further, That section 520E(b)(2) of 

the PHS Act shall not apply to funds 

appropriated in this Act for fiscal year [2015] 

2016: 

Because all states will have received a grant

under the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide 

Prevention statewide program and the original 

purpose of the restriction in 520E (b) (2) has

been served, this language would allow the 

program to continue by allowing states to

receive a second grant.

[Provided further, That of the amount

appropriated under this heading, $45,887,000 

shall be for the National Child Traumatic

Stress Initiative as described in section 582 of 

the PHS Act:]

It is not necessary to have specific PRNS PPA

lines written into the statute. The Budget 

includes $45,887,000 for this activity.

34 
Language Provision Explanation

Provided further, That States shall expend at

least 5 percent of the amount each receives for

carrying out section 1911 of the PHS Act to

support evidence-based [programs that] mental 

health prevention and treatment practices to

address the needs of individuals with early

serious mental illness, including psychotic 

disorders, regardless of the age of the 

individual at onset: 

States must use at least five percent of their

Community Mental Health Services Block

Grant award to support evidence-based mental

health promotion and treatment practices with

respect to individuals with early serious mental

illness.

For carrying out titles III[,] and V[, and XIX] 

of the PHS Act with respect to substance abuse 

treatment and [section 1922(a) of the PHS Act] 

title XIX of such Act with respect to substance 

abuse treatment and prevention, 

Sets out the budget authority for

Abuse Treatment appropriation. 

the Substance

Provided, That in addition to amounts

provided herein, [the following amounts]

$109,200,000 shall be available under section

241 of the PHS Act[: (1) $79,200,000] to

supplement funds otherwise available for 

substance abuse treatment activities and to

Sets the amount of Public Health Service

Evaluation Fund dollars allocated

supplement the budget authority available

programs and activities authorized under 

XIX as well as under titles III and V.

Act

to

for

title

carry out subpart II of part B of title XIX of the 

PHS Act to fund section 1935(b) technical

assistance, national data, data collection and

evaluation activities, and further that the total

available under this Act for section 1935(b) 

activities shall not exceed 5 percent of the 

amounts appropriated for subpart II of part B 

of title XIX

35 
Language Provision Explanation

[; and (2) $2,000,000 to 

abuse treatment programs]: 

evaluate substance The proviso previously mentioned eliminates

the need for this separate proviso as the 

amount is included in the $109,200,000. 

Provided, That in addition to amounts Sets the amount of Public Health Service Act

provided herein, $16,468,000 shall be Evaluation Fund dollars allocated to

available under section 241 of the PHS Act to supplement the budget authority available for

supplement funds otherwise available for programs and activities authorized under titles

substance abuse prevention activities. III and V. This change would allow PHS

Evaluation funds to be used to fund the Center

for the Application on Prevention 

Technologies and Strategic Prevention

Framework Rx programs.

Provided further, That amounts made available

in this Act for carrying out section 501(m) of 

the PHS Act shall remain available through 

September 30, [2016] 2017: 

SAMHSA’s emergency authority allows it to

tap certain programs up to one percent for

emergency response grants. SAMHSA’s

ability to respond to disasters which occur at

the end of the year, which is hurricane season,

is hampered by low available balances. To

ensure programs are only tapped to the extent

necessary and to ensure that SAMHSA’s

emergency response is agile, this proviso 

allows funds tapped to be carried over one 

additional fiscal year, and only for the same 

purpose. 

36 
Language Provision Explanation

Provided further, That the Administrator may Establishes a permissive authority to transfer a 

transfer funds between any of the accounts of small portion of funds between any of the 

SAMHSA with notification to the Committees SAMHSA accounts in order to ensure that

on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress multiple accounts are not a barrier to the 

at least 15 days in advance of any transfer, but efficient administration of the agency, or 

no such account shall be decreased by more appropriate responsiveness to emerging issues

than 3 percent by any such transfer. with congressional notification.

37 
Amounts Available for Obligation

(Whole dollars)

FY 2014

Actual

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

General Fund Discretionary Appropriation:

Appropriation (L/HHS, Ag, or, Interior) 3,434,935,000 3,474,045,000 3,395,663,000

Subtotal, adjusted appropriation 3,434,935,000 3,474,045,000 3,395,663,000

Transfer to the Department. (9,396,000) --- ---

Subtotal, adjusted general fund discr. appropriation (9,396,000) --- ---

Total, Discretionary Appropriation 3,425,539,000 3,474,045,000 3,395,663,000

MandatoryAppropriation:

Transfer from the Prevention and Public Health Funds 62,000,000 12,000,000 58,000,000

Subtotal, adjusted mandatory appropriation 62,000,000 12,000,000 58,000,000

Offsetting collectionsfrom:

Federal Source 132,667,000 133,667,000 210,624,000

Data Request and Publications User Fees --- 1,500,000 1,500,000

Unobligated balance, start of year 173,000 172,000 ---

Unobligated balance, end of year 811,000 646,276 631,694

Unobligated balance, lapsing --- --- ---

Total obligations 3,620,206,000 3,621,212,000 3,665,787,000

38 
Summary of Changes

(Whole dollars)

2015

Total estimated budget authority 3,474,045,000

(Obligations) 3,474,045,000

2016

Total estimated budget authority 3,395,663,000

(Obligations) 3,395,663,000

Net Change -$78,382,000

Increases:

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FTE

FY 2016

President's

Budget

BA

FY 2016

+/- 

FY 2015

FTE

FY 2016

+/- 

FY 2015

FTE

A. Built-in: 

1. Annualization of 2016 commissioned corps pay increase --- 48,040 --- +$35,600

2. Annualization of 2016 civilian pay increase --- 660,570 --- +465,600

3. Increase in rental payments to GSA --- 6,830,000 --- +6,830,000

Subtotal, Built-in Increases --- 7,538,610 --- +7,331,200

A. Program:

1. Substance Abuse Prevention PRNS --- 194,450,000 --- +19,302,000

2. Program Support --- 79,559,000 --- +7,557,000

3. Agency-Wide Initiatives --- 76,669,000 --- +31,000,000

Subtotal, Program Increases --- 350,678,000 --- +57,859,000

Total Increases --- --- --- +65,190,200

Decreases:

A. Built-in:

1. Absorption of built increases --- --- --- -7,538,610

Subtotal, Built-in Decreases --- --- --- -7,538,610

A. Program:

1. Mental Health PRNS --- 552,096,000 --- -24,249,000

2. Substance Abuse Treatment PRNS --- 290,701,000 --- -68,762,000

3. Health Surveillance --- --- --- -16,830,000

4. Public Awareness and Support --- --- --- -13,482,000

5. Performance and Quality Information Systems --- --- --- -12,918,000

Subtotal, Program Decreases --- 842,797,000 --- -136,241,000

Total Decreases --- --- --- -143,779,610

Net Change --- --- --- -78,589,410

39 
Budget Authority by Activity

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activities

FY 2014 

Final 

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget

FY 2016 

+/- 

FY 2015

1. Mental Health:

Programs of Regional and National Significance 377,315 370,538 377,289 +6,751

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 12,000 12000 38,000 +26,000

PHS Evaluation Funds --- --- 5,000 +5,000

Children's Mental Health Services 117,026 117,026 117,026 ---

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness 64,635 64,635 64,635 ---

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness 36,146 36,146 36,146 ---

Community Mental Health Services Block Grant 482,571 482,571 482,571 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 21,039 21,039 21,039 ---

Total, Mental Health 1,077,693 1,070,916 1,077,667 +6,751

2. Substance Abuse Prevention:

Programs of Regional and National Significance 175,129 175,148 210,918 +35,770

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 16,468 +16,468

Total, Substance Abuse Prevention 175,129 175,148 210,918 +35,770

3. Substance Abuse Treatment:

Programs of Regional and National Significance 360,689 361,463 320,701 -40,762

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 50,000 --- --- ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 2,000 2,000 30,000 +28,000

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant 1,815,443 1,819,856 1,819,856 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 79,200 79,200 79,200 ---

Total, Substance Abuse Treatment 2,176,141 2,181,319 2,140,557 -40,762

4. Health Surveillance and Program Support:

Health Surveillance and Program Support 119,260 119,260 128,987 +9,727

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) --- --- 20,000 +20,000

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 30,428 30,428 29,428 -1,000

Public Awareness and Support 13,482 13,482 15,571 +2,089

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 15,571 +15,571

Performance and Quality Information Systems 12,918 12,918 12,918 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 12,918 +12,918

Agency-Wide Initiatives 1 45,583 46,669 77,669 +31,000

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- 1,000 1,000 ---

Data Request/Publication User Fees 1,500 1,500 1,500 ---

Total, Health Surveillance/Program Support 192,743 193,829 236,645 +42,816

TOTAL, SAMHSA Discretionary PL 3,621,706 3,621,212 3,665,787 +44,575

Less PHS Evaluation Funds 132,667 133,667 210,624 +76,957

Less Prevention and Public Health Funds 62,000 12,000 58,000 +46,000

Less Data Request and Publications User Fees 1,500 1,500 1,500 ---

TOTAL, SAMHSA Budget Authority $3,425,539 $3,474,045 $3,395,663 -$78,382

FTEs 619 665 665 ---

1 The Minority Fellowship Program budgets from the Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment appropriations have been

comparably adjusted in this table to be in line with the FY 2016 Request and are reflected in the Health Surveillance and Program Support

Appropriation under the Agency-Wide Initiatives Workforce program.

40 
Authorizing Legislation

(Whole dollars)

Program Description/PHS Act: 

FY 2015 

Amount 

Authorized 

FY 2015 

Appropriations 

Act

FY 2016

Amount

Authorized

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget

Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals

Sec. 506 Expired $41,386,000 Expired $41,386,000 

Residential Treatment Programs for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Sec. 508 Expired $15,931,000 Expired $15,931,000 

Priority Substance Abuse Treatment Needs of Regional and National Significance

Sec. 509* Expired $272,541,000 Expired $203,779,000 

Substance Abuse Treatment Services for Children and Adolescents

Sec. 514* Expired $29,605,000 Expired $29,605,000 

Priority Substance Abuse Prevention Needs of Regional and National Significance

Sec. 516* Expired $167,148,000 Expired $186,450,000 

Programs to Reduce Underage Drinking

Sec. 519B* Expired $7,000,000 Expired $7,000,000 

Centers of Excellence on Services for 

Individuals with Such Conditions and 

Individuals with 

Their Families

FAS and Alcohol-related Birth Defects and Treatment for 

Sec. 519D* Expired $1,000,000 Expired $1,000,000

Priority Mental Health Needs of Regional and National Significance

Sec.520A* Expired $199,503,000 Expired $223,131,000 

Youth Interagency Research, Training, and Technical Assistance Centers

Sec. 520C* Expired $5,988,000 Expired $5,988,000 

Suicide Prevention for Children and Youth

Sec. 520E* Expired $23,427,000 Expired $25,427,000 

Sec. 520E2* Expired $6,488,000 Expired $6,488,000 

Grants for Jail Diversion Programs

Sec. 520G* Expired $4,269,000 Expired $4,269,000 

Awards for Co-locating Primary and Specialty Care in Community-based Health Settings

Sec. 520K* Expired $49,877,000 Expired 0 

PATH Grants to States

Sec. 535 (a) Expired $64,635,000 Expired $64,635,000 

SSAN = Such Sums as Necessary

41 
Authorizing Legislation

(Whole dollars)

Program Description/PHS Act:

FY 2015

Aount 

Authorized

FY 2015 

Appropriations

Act

FY 2016 

Amount 

Authorized 

FY 2016

President's 

Budget

Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances

Sec. 565 (f) Expired $117,026,000 Expired $117,026,000

Children and Violence Program

Sec. 581* Expired $23,099,000 Expired $23,099,000

Grants for Persons who Experience Violence Related Stress

Sec. 582 Expired $45,887,000 Expired $45,887,000

Community Mental Health Services Block Grants

Sec. 1920(a) Expired $461,532,000 Expired $461,532,000

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants

Sec. 1935(a) Expired $1,740,656,000 Expired $1,740,656,000

Other Legislation/Program Description

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act

P.L. 99-319, Sec. 117 Expired $36,146,000 Expired $36,146,000

Health Surveillance and Program Support Program Management

Sec. 501 Indefinite $72,002,000 Indefinite $79,559,000

Total, Program Management Indefinite $72,002,000 Indefinite $79,559,000

Heath Surveillance Indefinite $16,830,000 Indefinite 0

Public Awareness and Support (FY12) Indefinite $13,482,000 Indefinite 0

PQIS (FY12) Indefinite $12,918,000 Indefinite 0

Agency-Wide Initiatives Indefinite $45,669,000 Indefinite $76,669,000

Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grants

Sec. 724 SSAN 0 SSAN 0

Indian Youth Life Skills Development Demonstration Program

Sec. 726 $1,000,000 0 $1,000,000 0

TOTAL, SAMHSA Budget Authority $1,000,000 $3,474,045,000 0 $3,395,663,000

* Denotes programsthat were authorized in the Children's Health Act of 2000. We have the authority to carry out these programsin our general

authorities inSection 507,516,and 520A.

42 
Appropriations History

(Whole dollars)

Budget Estimate 

to Congress House Allowance Senate Allowance Appropriation

1/

FY 2006

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,336,023,000 $3,352,047,000 $3,398,086,000 $3,237,813,000 

P.L. 109-149

Rescission (P.L. 109-359) --- --- --- -$1,681,000

Transfers (Section 202) --- --- --- -$2,201,000

2/

Subtotal $3,336,023,000 $352,047,000 $3,398,086,000 $3,233,931,000 

FY 2007

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,260,001,000 $3,326,341,772 $3,326,341,772 $1,211,654,381 

P.L. 109-383 3/

Continuing Education --- --- --- $3,326,341,772 

Subtotal $3,260,001,000 $3,326,341,772 $3,326,341,772 $4,537,996,153 

4/

FY 2008

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,167,589,000 $3,393,841,000 $3,404,789,000 $3,291,543,000 

P.L. 110-161

Rescission (P.L. 110-161) --- --- --- -$57,503,000

Subtotal $3,167,589,000 $3,393,841,000 $3,404,789,000 $3,234,040,000 

5/

FY 2009

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,024,967,000 $3,303,265,000 $3,257,647,000 $3,334,906,000 

P.L. 111-8

Subtotal $3,024,967,000 $3,303,265,000 $3,257,647,000 $3,334,906,000 

FY 2010

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,393,882,000 $3,429,782,000 $3,419,438,000 $341,116,000 

P.L. 111-117

Subtotal $3,393,882,000 $3,429,782,000 $3,419,438,000 $341,116,000 

43 
Budget Estimate 

to Congress House Allowance Senate Allowance Appropriation 

6/

FY 2011

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,541,362,000 $3,565,360,000 $3,576,184,000 $3,386,311,000 

P.L. 112-10

Subtotal $3,541,362,000 $3,565,360,000 $3,576,184,000 $3,386,311,000 

FY 2012

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,386,903,000 $3,096,914,000 $3,354,637,000 $3,347,020,000 

P.L. 112-74

7/

Subtotal $3,386,903,000 $3,096,914,000 $3,354,637,000 $3,347,020,000 

FY 2013

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,151,508,000 --- $3,472,213,000 $3,172,154,778 

S.R. 112-176

8/

Subtotal $3,151,508,000 --- $3,472,213,000 $3,172,154,778 

FY 2014

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,347,951,097 --- $3,529,944,000 $3,434,935,000 

S.R. 113-071

9/

Subtotal $3,347,951,097 --- $3,529,944,000 $3,434,935,000 

FY 2015

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,297,669,000 --- $3,431,878,000 $3,474,045,000 

P.L. 113-235

Subtotal $3,297,669,000 --- $3,431,878,000 $3,474,045,000 

FY 2016

General Fund Appropriation:

Base $3,395,663,000 

P.L. 113-235

Subtotal $3,395,663,000 

1/ Reflects Section 202 transfer to CMS.

2/ Reflects ContinuingResolution through February 15, 2007.

3/ Reflects the whole year appropriation

4/Reflectsa 1.7 percentacross-the-boardRescissionfrom theP.L.110-161.

5/ Reflects a $508 thousand transfer toHHS

6/Reflects a 0.189 percentacross-the-boardRescissionfrom theP.L.112-74, and$953,809 RyanWhitetransfer

7/ Reflects tthe annualizedlevelprovided by the continuing resolution.

8/ Reflects the whole year appropriation 

9/ Reflects the whole year appropriation 

44 
Appropriations Not Authorized by Law

(Whole dollars)

Program

Last Year of

Authorization 

Authorization 

Level 

Appropriation in 

Last Year of 

Authorization 

Appropriation in 

FY 2015 

Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals

Sec. 506 2003 $50,000,000 $16,700,000 $41,386,000 

Residential Treatment Programs for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Sec. 508 2003 SSAN $0 $15,931,000 

Priority Substance Abuse Treatment Needs of Regional and National Significance

Sec. 509* 2003 $300,000,000 $322,994,000 $272,541,000 

Substance Abuse Treatment Services for Children and Adolescents

Sec. 514* 2003 $40,000,000 $20,000,000 $29,605,000 

Priority Substance Abuse Prevention Needs of Regional and National Significance

Sec. 516* 2003 $300,000,000 $138,399,000 $167,148,000 

Centers of Excellence on Services for Individuals with FAS and Alcohol-related Birth Defects and Treatment for 

Individuals with Such Conditions and Their Families

Sec. 519D* 2003 $5,000,000 $2,416,000 $1,000,000 

Priority Mental Health Needs of Regional and National Significance

Sec.520A* 2003 $300,000,000 $94,289,000 $199,503,000 

Youth Interagency Research, Training, and Technical Assistance Centers

Sec. 520C* 2007 $5,000,000 $3,960,000 $5,988,000 

Suicide Prevention for Children and Youth

Sec. 520E* 2007 $30,000,000 $17,829,000 $23,427,000 

Sec. 520E2* 2007 $5,000,000 $4,950,000 $6,488,000 

Grants for Jail Diversion Programs

Sec. 520G* 2003 $10,000,000 $6,043,000 $4,269,000 

PATH Grants to State

Sec. 535 (a) 2003 $75,000,000 $46,855,000 $64,635,000 

Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances

Sec. 565 (f) 2003 $100,000,000 $96,694,000 $117,026,000 

SSAN = Such Sums as Necessary

45 
Program

Last Year of

Authorization 

Authorization 

Level 

Appropriation in 

Last Year of 

Authorization 

Appropriation 

in FY 2015 

Children and Violence Program 

Sec. 581* 2003 $100,000,000 $83,035,000 $23,099,000 

Grants for Persons who Experienced Violence Related Stress

Sec. 582* 2003 $50,000,000 $20,000,000 $45,887,000 

Community Mental Health Services Block Grant

Sec. 1920 (a) 2003 $450,000,000 $433,000,000 $461,532,000 

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant

Sec. 1935 (a) 2003 $2,000,000,000 $1,785,000,000 $1,740,656,000 

Other Legislative/Program Description

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act

P.L. 99-319, Sec 117 2003 $19,500,000 $32,500,000 $36,146,000 

TOTAL, SAMHSA Budget Authority $3,839,500,000 $3,124,664,000 $3,256,267,000 

*Denotesprogramsthatwere authorizedintheChildren'sHealthActof2000. SAMHSAhastheauthoritytocarry outthese

programsinourgeneralauthoritiesinSection507,516and520A.

**Congress authorized two provisions as section 514.

46 
SAMHSA

Mental Health

Table of Contents

1. Mental Health Appropriation ............................................................................................ 49

2. Programs of Regional and National Significance ............................................................. 50

a) Seclusion and Restraint and Trauma ........................................................................... 51

b) Youth Violence Prevention ......................................................................................... 53

c) Project AWARE .......................................................................................................... 58

d) Mental Health First Aid for Veterans’ Families .......................................................... 61

e) Healthy Transitions ..................................................................................................... 62

f) National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative .................................................................. 65

g) Children and Family Programs ................................................................................... 68

h) Consumer and Family Network Programs .................................................................. 69

i) Project LAUNCH ........................................................................................................ 71

j) Mental Health System Transformation and Health Reform ........................................ 75

k) Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) ......................................... 78

l) Suicide Prevention Programs ...................................................................................... 81

i. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention ............................................................ 81

ii. Suicide Lifeline ................................................................................................... 83

iii. Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention - State and Campus........................ 84

iv. Suicide Prevention Resource Center ................................................................... 86

v. AI/AN Suicide Prevention ................................................................................... 87

m) Homelessness Prevention and Housing Programs ...................................................... 89

n) Minority AIDS ............................................................................................................ 93

o) Criminal and Juvenile Justice Programs ..................................................................... 95

p) Practice Improvement and Training ............................................................................ 97

q) Consumer and Consumer-Supporter TA Centers ....................................................... 99

r) Disaster Response ..................................................................................................... 100

s) Tribal Behavioral Health Grants ............................................................................... 101

t) Grants for Adult Treatment, Screening, and Brief Response .................................... 105

u) Crisis Systems: Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE) ...................... 106

3. PRNS Mechanism Table by APT ................................................................................... 112

4. PRNS Mechanism Table by PPA .................................................................................... 113

5. Grant Awards Table ........................................................................................................ 121

6. Children's Mental Health Services .................................................................................. 123

7. Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness .............................................. 129

8. Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness ........................................ 135

9. Community Mental Health Services Block Grant ........................................................... 141

47 
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48 
Mental Health Appropriation

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activities FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's 

Budget

FY 2016

+/- 

FY 2015

Programs of Regional and National Significance $377,315 $370,538 $377,289 +$6,751

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 12,000 12,000 38,000 +26,000

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 5,000 +5,000

Children’s Mental Health Services 117,026 117,026 117,026 ---

PATH Homeless Formula Grant 64,635 64,635 64,635 ---

PAIMI 36,146 36,146 36,146 ---

Community Mental Health Services Block Grant 482,571 482,571 482,571 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 21,039 21,039 21,039 ---

1 Total, Mental Health $1,077,693 $1,070,916 $1,077,667 +$6,751

1 The Minority Fellowship Program budgets from the Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment appropriations have been

comparably adjusted in this table to be in line with the FY 2016 Request and are reflected in the Health Surveillance and Program Support

Appropriation under the Agency-Wide Initiatives Workforce program.

The Mental Health appropriation request is $1.1 billion, an increase of $6.8 million from the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. The request includes $1.0 billion in Budget Authority (a decrease of

$24.2 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level), $26.0 million in PHS Evaluation Funds (level 

funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level), and $38.0 million in Prevention and Public Health 

Fund resources (an increase of $26.0 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level).

49 
Programs of Regional and National Significance

Mental Health Appropriation

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's 

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

CAPACITY

Seclusionand Restraint and Trauma $1,147 $1,147 $1,147 $---

YouthViolence Prevention 23,099 23,099 23,099 ---

Project AWARE 54,865 54,865 54,865 ---

Project AWAREState Grants(non-add) 39,902 39,902 39,902 ---

MentalHealthFirstAid (non-add) 14,963 14,963 14,963 ---

MentalHealthFirst Aid for Veterans’ Families --- --- 4,000 +4,000

HealthyTransitions 19,951 19,951 19,951 ---

NationalChildTraumatic StressInitiative 45,887 45,887 45,887 ---

ChildrenandFamilyPrograms 6,458 6,458 6,458 ---

ConsumerandFamilyNetworkGrants 4,954 4,954 4,954 ---

Project LAUNCH 34,555 34,555 34,555 ---

MH SystemTransformationand HealthReform 10,556 3,779 3,779 ---

PrimaryandBehavioralHealthCare Integration 49,877 49,877 26,004 -23,873

Prevention &Public HealthFund (non-add) --- --- 26,004 +26,004

Suicide Prevention 60,032 60,032 62,032 +2,000

NationalStrategy for SuicidePrevention (non-add) 2,000 2,000 4,000 +2,000

Prevention &Public HealthFund (non-add) 2,000 --- --- ---

Suicide Lifeline (non-add) 7,198 7,198 7,198 ---

Prevention &Public HealthFund (non-add) 1,700 --- --- ---

GLS- Youth SuicidePrevention - States(non-add) 35,427 35,427 35,427 ---

Prevention &Public HealthFund (non-add) 5,800 12,000 10,000 -2,000

GLS- Youth SuicidePrevention - Campus(non-add) 6,488 6,488 6,488 ---

Prevention &Public HealthFund (non-add) 1,500 --- --- ---

GLS - Suicide Prevention Resource Center(non-add) 5,988 5,988 5,988 ---

Prevention &Public HealthFund (non-add) 1,000 --- --- ---

AI/ANSuicidePrevention Initiative (non-add) 2,931 2,931 2,931 ---

Tribal Behavioral Health Grants 4,988 4,988 15,000 +10,012

PHSEvaluationFunds(non-add) --- --- 5,000 +5,000

Homelessness Prevention Programs 30,696 30,696 30,696 ---

Minority AIDS 9,224 9,224 15,935 +6,711

Grantsfor AdultTreatment, Screening, and BriefResponse --- --- 2,896 +2,896

Crisis Systems --- --- 5,000 +5,000

Criminaland Juvenile Justice Programs 4,269 4,269 4,269 ---

Subtotal, Capacity 360,558 353,781 360,527 +6,746

50 
Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's 

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

SCIENCEAND SERVICE

Practice Improvement and Training 7,828 7,828 7,828 ---

Consumer andConsumerSupporter TechnicalAssistance

Centers 1,918 1,918 1,918 ---

PrimaryandBehavioralHealthCare IntegrationTTA 1,991 1,991 1,996 +5

Prevention &PublicHealthFund (non-add) --- --- 1,996 +1,996

Disaster Response 1,953 1,953 1,953 ---

Homelessness 2,296 2,296 2,296 ---

HIV/AIDS Education 771 771 771 ---

Subtotal, Science andService 16,757 16,757 16,762 +5

TOTAL, PRNS1/2

$377,315 $370,538 $377,289 +$6,751 1/ The PRNS FY 2014 total includes $12,000,000 and 2015 Request total includes $38,000,000 funded by the Prevention and

Public Health Fund. 2/ CMHS Minority Fellowship Program budget is reflected in the Health Surveillance and Program Support Appropriation

under the Agency-Wide Initiatives Workforce program for all years.

* Totals may not add due to rounding.

Authorizing Legislation ................................................. Sections 501, 520A, 520C, 520E, 520E-2, 

520K, 581, and 582 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities........................ States, Tribes, Provider Organizations, Community Organizations

Seclusion and Restraint and Trauma

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Seclusion and Restraint and Trauma $1,147 $1,147 $1,147 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable 

Program Description and Accomplishments

This program provides technical assistance to states/tribes and communities in their efforts to

implement best practices to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of restraints and seclusion in

institutional and community-based settings that provide services for individuals with mental and

co-occurring substance use disorders. 

People die because of seclusion and restraint practices, countless others are injured, and many

are secondarily traumatized by coercive practices. Children with emotional and behavioral 

51 
problems are more frequently subjected to restraints in schools than students with other 

disabilities, often leading to serious physical injuries and emotional trauma for both students and

staff. Coercive practices such as seclusion and restraint impede recovery and well-being. Through 

SAMHSA’s National Technical Assistance Center: Promoting Alternatives to Seclusion and

Restraint Through Trauma-Informed Practices, trauma-informed approaches to care have been

developed, proven effective, and implemented to reduce or eliminate the use of coercive

practices.

While this initiative includes a focus on the mental health delivery system, it also includes other 

service sectors such as criminal justice, schools, and child welfare organizations that may use 

coercive practices with people who have mental and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. 

This program facilitates the implementation of evidence-based strategies for preventing and

reducing the use of seclusion and restraint and implementing a trauma-informed approach that

reduces the use and harmful effects of coercive practices.

A five-year contract was awarded in FY 2013 to design, assess, and implement a technical

assistance strategy to assist publicly funded systems, agencies, and organizations across the 

nation in addressing two high priority and interrelated objectives. The first objective is to

promote alternatives to and, ultimately, eliminate restraint, seclusion, and other coercive

practices. The second objective is to develop and implement training and technical assistance on 

SAMHSA’s concept of trauma17, key principles, and practice guidelines for a trauma-informed 

approach, recognizing that both organizational and culture change are necessary to sustain efforts

to eliminate the use of seclusion and restraints. In addition, the contract facilitates dissemination

of trauma-informed practices across multiple service settings. In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to

support the continuation of this contract.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $2,444,371

FY 2013 $2,121,167

FY 2014 $1,147,000

FY 2015 $1,147,000

FY 2016 $1,147,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $1.1 million at the program level. This is the same level as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to continue support for dissemination of 

trauma-informed practices across multiple service settings to advance the goal of reducing and

17 Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an

individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's

functioning and physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

52 
eliminating the use of seclusion, restraint, and other traumatizing practices in service systems

and treatment agencies through continuation of the existing contract.

Youth Violence Prevention

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY 2015

Youth Violence Prevention $23,099 $23,099 $23,099 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method.................... ...................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities............................ State Education Agencies, State Mental Health Authorities,

Tribes and Territories

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA’s Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative is a discretionary grant program 

that seeks to create healthy learning environments that help students thrive, succeed in school, 

and build healthy relationships. 

Although youth violence is decreasing in some parts of the country, due in part to programs such

as the SS/HS Initiative, youth violence remains a public health problem in the United States.

Data has found that fewer students are engaging in fights. The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior

Surveillance System - US reports18 the prevalence of high school students having been in a 

physical fight decreased from 2011 (32.8 percent) to 2013 (24.7 percent). The prevalence of 

having been in a physical fight on school property also decreased between 2011 and 2013, from

12.1 percent to 8.1 percent. Other indicators of violence have not significantly improved in

recent years. Nationwide, in 2013, 17.9 percent of students had carried a weapon (e.g., gun,

knife, or club) on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey. In 2013, an estimated

20 percent of high school students reported being bullied on school property. 

For more than a decade, the SS/HS Initiative has successfully decreased violence and increased

the number of students receiving mental health services, supporting programs in more than 300 

local school districts.19 The SS/HS Initiative implements an enhanced, coordinated, and

comprehensive plan of activities, programs, and services that promote healthy childhood 

development, prevent violence, and prevent alcohol and drug abuse. Grantees are required to

develop local strategic plans that address five required elements: (1) safe school environments 

and violence prevention activities; (2) alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention activities; (3)

student behavioral, social, and emotional supports; (4) mental health services; and (5) early

childhood social and emotional learning programs. This grant program builds on the investments 

18 Frieden, Thomas R., Jaffe, Harold W., Cono, Joanne, et. al. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance – United States,

2013. MMWR 2014; 63 (No. SS 4: 8-10)

19 http://www.sshs.samhsa.gov/initiative/currentinit.aspx.

53 
in the SS/HS Initiative through state and community level partnerships across education,

behavioral health, and criminal justice systems that promote systems integration, policy change,

and sustainable policies, infrastructure, services, and supports. 

The Interim Report of the SS/HS Initiative National Evaluation indicates that more than 90 

percent of school staff has observed reduced violence on school grounds and almost 80 

percent reported that SS/HS reduced violence in their communities. Children and adolescents in

school districts participating in the SS/HS grant program experienced a 47 percent increase in

access to school-based mental health services and a 30 percent increase in receipt of communitybased mental health services. Nearly 90 percent of school staff stated that they were better able

to detect mental health problems in their students and more than 80 percent of school staff

reported lower rates of alcohol and other drug use among their students. In FY 2012 and

FY 2013, SAMHSA exceeded targets for reducing the percentage of students engaging in

substance abuse. This measure includes both middle school and high school students who

reported having used alcohol or drugs in the past 30 days.

In addition to grants, funding also supports an ongoing SS/HS State Program evaluation that

intended to (1) assess the extent to which implementation of comprehensive school violence 

prevention initiatives--guided by the SS/HS framework--is achieved at both the state and

community levels; (2) determine the breadth and volume of activities necessary to achieve

coordination across multiple service systems; (3) identify and describe the elements or activities

that are associated with improved child wellness; and (4) estimate the extent to which states and

communities improve access to mental health services for target populations and reduce

subpopulation disparities in access, services, and outcomes. Three studies will address these

issues. The studies include The Planning Collaboration & Partnership Study, The Implementation

Study, and the Workforce Study. Each of these studies utilizes multiple data collection methods 

including information interviews, web-based surveys and document review.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided continuation funds for seven four-year grants through the

SS/HS Planning, Local Education Agency and Local Community program grants (SS/HS State

program). In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to provide continuation funds for the third year for these

same grants and contracts.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $23,156,152

FY 2013 $21,944,947

FY 2014 $23,099,000

FY 2015 $23,099,000

FY 2016 $23,099,000

54 
Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $23.1 million at the program level. This is the same as the

FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding is requested to provide continuation funds for seven states

through the Planning, Local Education Agency and Local Community program grants (SS/HS

State program), and the related technical assistance and evaluation contracts to help students 

thrive, succeed in school, and build healthy relationships. These funds continue support for state

and community-level partnerships across education, behavioral health, and juvenile justice

systems, and promote systems integration and collaboration. 

55 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Youth Violence Prevention1 

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget. 

Measure Year and Most Recent FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Result /Target for Recent Target

Result

+/- 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

3.2.04 Number of children served FY 2013: 952,142 952,142 952,142 Maintain

through the Youth Violence Prevention

program (Outcome) Target:

2,328,500

(Target Not Met)

3.2.10 Percentage of students who FY 2013: 70.7% 70.7% 70.7% Maintain

receive mental health services

(Outcome) Target:

66%

(Target Exceeded)

3.2.29 Percentage of middle and high FY 2013: 13.8% 13.8% 13.8% Maintain

school students who have been in a

physical fight on school property Target:

(Outcome) 27.0%

(Target Exceeded)

3.2.30 Decrease of the percentage of FY 2013: 18.1% 18.1% 18.1% Maintain

middle and high school students who

report currentsubstance abuse Target:

(Outcome) 20.0%

(Target Exceeded)

1 After the following Safe Schools/Healthy Students State and Tribal table has reported baseline data, some of the

measures in this table will be discontinued.

56 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Safe Schools/Healthy Students State Planning, Local Education Agency, and

Local Community Cooperative Agreements

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted 

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget. 

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result /Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

3.2.45 Number of organizations collaborating

and sharing resources with other organizations

as a result of the grant (Output)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

Maintain

3.2.46 Increase the number of individuals who

receive training in prevention or mental health

promotion (Intermediate Outcome)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

Maintain

3.2.47 Increase the number of people in mental

health and related workforce trained in mental

health-related practices/activities that are

consistent with the goals of the grant (Output)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

Maintain

3.2.48 Increase the number of state and local

policy changes completed as a result of the

grant (Output)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

Maintain

3.2.49 Increase the number of organizations

that entered into a formal written inter/intra

organizational agreements (such as an MOU)

to improve mental health related

practices/activities that are consistent with the

goals of the grant (Output)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

Maintain

3.2.50 Decrease the percentage of middle and

high school students who report current

alcohol use (Intermediate Outcome)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target: 18.1 % 

(Pending)

18.1 % 18.1 % Maintain

57 
Project AWARE

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Project AWARE $54,865 $54,865 $54,865 $---

Project AWAREState Grants(non-add) 39,902 39,902 39,902 ---

MentalHealth First Aid (non-add) 14,963 14,963 14,963 ---

Authorizing Legislation ......... Sections 501, 509, 516, and 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities.......................................................................State and Local Education Agencies,

Local Governmental Entities, Community Organizations and Provider Organizations 

Community Colleges, Networks, States, National Non-Profit Organizations

States and Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

In FY 2014, in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School and as part of the 

President’s Now is the Time initiative, SAMHSA provided $54.9 million to support Project

AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) to increase awareness of mental

health issues and connect young people with behavioral health issues and their families with

needed services. SAMHSA partnered with the Departments of Education and Justice in the

development, implementation, and management of this initiative to maximize coordination and

avoid duplication of efforts.

Project AWARE is composed of two components: Project AWARE State Educational Agency

Grants ($39.9 million) built on the highly successful Safe Schools/Healthy Students Model, 

which is intended to create safe and supportive schools and communities. SAMHSA awarded

these grants to 20 State Educational Agencies (SEAs) to promote comprehensive, coordinated, 

and integrated state efforts to make schools safer and increase access to mental health services.

The second component, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), supports widespread dissemination of 

the MHFA curriculum. The MHFA curriculum prepares teachers and other individuals who

work with youth to help schools and communities to understand, recognize, and respond to signs

of mental illness or substance abuse in children and youth, including how to talk to adolescents

and families experiencing these problems so that they are more willing to seek treatment. The

target for the first year of the program is 750,000 individuals trained or served.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded 20 Project AWARE SEA awards and 100 Local Educational 

Agencies (LEAs) multi-year awards to grantees who applied for Department of Education School 

Climate Change awards. The project period for Project AWARE awards is four years and the 

project period for MHFA awards is two years. In addition, SAMHSA will make 68 new MHFA

awards to community organizations serving youth and families.

58 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 $54,865,000

FY 2015 $54,865,000

FY 2016 $54,865,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $54.9 million at the program level. This is the same as FY 2015 

Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to support third year continuation funding to the 20 

SEA AWARE grantees and up to 68 MHFA continuation grant awards. In addition this funding 

supports NITT technical assistance and evaluation contracts.

59 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Project AWARE

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result /Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

3.2.18 Number of children served. (Output) FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target:

750,000

(Pending)

750,000 750,000

3.2.19 Number of children referred to mental

health or related services. (Output)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

3.2.39 Number of individuals who have

received training in prevention or mental

health promotion (Outcome)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

60 
Mental Health First Aid f or Veterans’ Families 

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Mental Health First Aid for Veterans’ Families --- --- $4,000 +$4,000

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities............................................................................ Community Organizations, LEA,

Veterans Service Organizations, and Communities

Program Description

Military service members, veterans, and their families are often not aware of how to engage on 

issuesrelated to mental illnesses and addictions. Military service not only affectsservice members

and veterans, it also impacts their circle of family (significant others, children, parents, siblings,

etc.) and friends.

The FY 2016 Budget Request will train veterans, their family and friends, and those that work

with them on use of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). The MHFA curriculum helps individuals 

understand, recognize, and respond to signs of mental illness or substance abuse. This training

will help break down the negative perceptions associated with mental illnesses like anxiety,

depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders as well as reach

out to those who suffer in silence, reluctant to seek help and let veterans and their families know 

that support is available in their community. The MHFA for Veterans’ Families program 

includes several key components: a discussion of military culture and its relevance to the topic of 

mental health; discussion of the specific risk factors faced by many service members and their

families such as trauma, both mental and physical, stress, separation, etc.; applying the MHFA

five step action plan in a number of scenarios designed specifically for veterans, service members,

their families and those that support them; and a review of common mental health resources

for service members, their families and those who support them. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $4,000,000 

61 
Budget Request

In FY 2016, SAMHSA requests $4.0 million, an increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level to

expand the Mental Health First Aid program to reach 55,000 more people. This request will

provide MHFA training to individuals who work with veterans, military service members and

their families.

Healthy Transitions

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Healthy Transitions $19,951 $19,951 $19,951 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities...................................................................................................... States and Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided $20.0 million for this program within the Now is the Time

initiative for five-year grants to 17 states to improve access to mental health treatment and

related support services for youth and young adults ages 16 to 25 that either have, or are at risk

of developing, a serious mental health condition. Individuals who are 16 to 25 years old are at

high risk of developing a mental illness or substance use disorder and are at high risk for suicide.

Unfortunately, these youth are among the least likely to seek help. As a result, they may not 

receive the help they need to assume safe and productive adult roles and responsibilities. In this

program, states are expanding services, developing family and youth networks for information

sharing and peer support, and disseminating best practices for services to these young 

individuals. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will provide support for 17 NITT - Healthy Transition

continuation grants and the NITT technical assistance and evaluation contracts.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 $19,951,000

FY 2015 $19,951,000

FY 2016 $19,951,000

62 
Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $20.0 million at the program level. This is the same as the

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to support third year continuation funding 

for the 17 NITT Healthy Transition grantees. In addition this funding supports NITT technical

assistance and evaluation contracts.

63 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Healthy Transitions1

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1

The 2013 baseline results do not represent actual program activity. SAMHSA used results from the Garrett Lee

Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Program to derive the FY 2013 baseline for the new Healthy

Transitions program which began in 2014 as these programs focus on the same age cohort. 2

The decrease in the FY 2016 target was due to a $5 million reduction (from $25 million to $20 million) in program

funding in the FY 2015 appropriation. The FY 2016 target was calculated using the cost per person served which

was derived by dividing the FY 2013 Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal appropriation by the FY 2013 baseline. This

amount became the numerator and the FY 2015 appropriation of $20 million the denominator to determine the

FY2016 target.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

3.2.34 Percentage of clients receiving services

who report positive functioning at 6 month

follow-up. (Outcome)

FY 2014: 65.5 %

Target: 64.0 % 

(Target Exceeded)

64.0 % 64.0 % Maintain

3.2.35 Percentage of clients receiving services

who had a permanent place to live in the

community at 6 month follow-up. (Outcome)

FY 2014: 39.6 %

Target: 36.0 % 

(Target Exceeded)

36.0 % 36.0 % Maintain

3.2.36 Percentage of clients receiving services who

are currently employed at 6 month follow-up.

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 55.7 %

Target: 56.0 % 

(Target Not Met)

56.0 % 56.0 % Maintain

3.2.38 Increase the number of individuals

referred to mental health or related services

(Intermediate Outcome)

FY 2013: 7,3891

Target:7,389

(Baseline)

5,9112 5,911 Maintain

64 
National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative $45,887 $45,887 $45,887 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities......................................................................... States, Local Governments, Tribes,

Institutions of Higher Education, and Community Organizations

Program Description and Accomplishments

Established in 2000, the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI) aims to improve 

behavioral health treatment, services, and interventions for children and adolescents exposed to

traumatic events. The NCTSI has provided funding for a national network of grantees known as

the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) to develop and promote effective

community practices for children and adolescents exposed to a wide array of traumatic events.

The NCTSN has grown from a collaborative network of 17 sites to more than 165 funded and

affiliate centers located nationwide in universities, hospitals, and other diverse community-based

organizations, with thousands of national and local partners. The NCTSN’s mission is to raise

the standard of care and improve access to services for children experiencing trauma, their

families, and communities. The SAMHSA-funded National Center for Child Traumatic Stress

(NCCTS) recipient, UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute, partners with Duke University Medical

Center. Network members work together within and across diverse settings, including a wide

variety of governmental and non-governmental organizations. 

Data collected through FY 2013 demonstrate that the current grantees in the NCTSN have

provided trauma-informed treatment to nearly 25,000 children, adolescents and family members.

The NCTSN continues to be a principal source of child-trauma training for the nation. In

FY 2013, NCTSN grantee sites provided training to more than 170,000 individuals. The Network

has developed resources for child/adolescent trauma on the NCTSN website, which receives

on average 2,500 visits a day. During this same time period, 45 new resources were developed. 

In addition, individuals have downloaded site products such as fact sheets and toolkits more

than 70,000 times. The Network has developed a Learning Center website that provides access

to 195 expert webinars on trauma topics, 26 intensive learning collaboratives, and various

online certification programs that offer continuing education credits free of charge.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided continuation support to 78 NCTSN four-year grants and

continued to build on the robust work of the NCTSN and improve and enhance the capacity of 

the NCTSI to deliver effective interventions and core trauma practices. Recipients of these

grants include community providers and research organizations with expertise in child trauma.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to support for the final year of the existing 78 NCTSI continuation 

grants.

65 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $45,713,438

FY 2013 $43,322,145

FY 2014 $45,887,000

FY 2015 $45,887,000

FY 2016 $45,887,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $45.9 million at the program level, the same as the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding for 81 new grant awards to continue support for the 

improvement of behavioral health treatment, services, and interventions for children and

adolescents exposed to traumatic events.

66 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI)

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

 

1

The result has been revised to include an additional data source. Previously, the measure greatly underreported the

number of children benefitting from NCTSI evidence-based practices as it only included those children who

received services provided by the NCTSI Category III grantees. By including the additional data source, the total

now includes the number of children receiving services from providers trained by NCTSI Category II and Category

III grantees. 2 The target has been revised to include an additional data source. Previously, the measure greatly underreported the

number of children benefitting from NCTSI evidence–based practices as it only included those children who

received services provided by the NCTSI Category III grantees. By including the additional data source, the total

now includes the number of children receiving services from providers trained by NCTSI Category II and Category

III grantees.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result /Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

3.2.02a Increase the percentage of

children receiving trauma informed

services who report positive

functioning at 6 month follow-up

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 77.9%

Target:

76.1%

(Target Exceeded)

65.9% 65.9% Maintain

3.2.23 Unduplicated count of the

number of children and adolescents

receiving trauma- informed services

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 46,1061

Target:

3,052

(Target Exceeded)

48,8722 48,872 Maintain

3.2.24 Number of child-serving

professionalstrained in providing

trauma-informed services (Outcome)

FY 2014: 213,093

Target:

95,186

(Target Exceeded)

225,710 225,710 Maintain

67 
Children and Family Programs

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Children and Family Programs $6,458 $6,458 $6,458 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ................................... Competitive Grants/Contracts/ Interagency Agreements

Eligible Entities....................................................................................................................... Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA’s Children and Family Programs provide support for the Circles of Care grant program.

These grants enhance and improve the quality of existing services, and promote the use of 

culturally competent services for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and youth 

with, or at risk for, mental disorders and their families. Initially funded in 1998, the Circles

of Care Program is a three-year grant which seeks to eliminate mental health disparities by

providing tribal and Alaska Native communities with tools and resources to build and sustain their

own culturally competent systems of care model for children’s mental health. The program reflects

the unique history and needs of tribal and Alaska Native communities. The program also increases

capacity and community readiness to address the mental health issues of children and families.

There is tremendous need in Indian Country related to mental and substance use disorders, and

through Circles of Care, SAMHSA has improved the availability, accessibility and acceptability

of behavioral health services for native youth. In the last cohort of grantees, all four tribes that 

applied for a systems of care grant received funding.

In addition, SAMHSA’s Children and Family Programs supports two technical assistance centers

called the Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs) on Transition to Employment

for Youth and Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions. These RRTCs seek to

advance the current knowledge base by supporting research, training, technical assistance, and

knowledge translation activities that contribute to improved employment outcomes for youth and

young adults with serious mental health conditions, including youth and young adults from highrisk, disadvantaged backgrounds. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA continued to support Children and Family programs, including 11 threeyear new Circles of Care grants to tribal communities and two RRTCs. In FY 2015, SAMHSA

plans to continue support for these Children and Family programs.

68 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $6,473,741

FY 2013 $6,460,794

FY 2014 $6,458,000

FY 2015 $6,458,000

FY 2016 $6,458,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $6.5 million at the program level. This is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to continue support for the Children and

Family programs which enhance and improve the quality of existing services, and promote the

use of culturally competent services and support for AI/AN children and youth with, or at risk

for, mental health conditions and their families.

The outputs and outcomes measures for Children and Family Programs are part of the Mental

Health - Other Capacity Activities outputs and outcomes table shown on page 110. 

Consumer and Family Network Programs

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Consumer and FamilyNetwork Grants $4,954 $4,954 $4,954 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities....................................................................................... Community Organizations

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Consumer and Family Network Programs support SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Strategic

Initiative by providing consumers, families, and youth with opportunities to meaningfully 

participate in the development of policies, programs, and quality assurance activities related to

mental health systems across America. The Consumer and Family Network Programs support 

three grant activities: the Statewide Consumer Network Program, the Statewide Family Network

Program, and the Statewide Peer Network Development Program for Recovery and Resiliency

program.

The Statewide Consumer Network Grant Program focuses on the needs of adult mental health

consumers (18 years and older) by strengthening the capabilities of statewide consumer-run

organizations. These entities serve an important role in engaging consumers, caregivers and

providers in improving and transforming the mental health and related systems in their states.

69 
This network is a sustainable mechanism for integrating the consumer voice in state mental

health and allied systems to: (1) expand service system capacity; (2) support policy and program

development; and (3) enhance peer support. This program promotes skill development with an

emphasis on leadership and business management as well as coalition/partnership-building and

economic empowerment as part of the recovery process for consumers.

The Statewide Family Network Grant Program provides education and training to increase

family organizations’ capacity for policy and service development by (1) strengthening

organizational relationships and business management skills; (2) fostering leadership skills among

families of children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances; and (3) identifying

and addressing the technical assistance needs of children and adolescents with serious emotional

disturbances and their families. The Statewide Family Network Program focuses on families;

parents; the primary caregivers of children; youth; and young adults. In this case, children,

youth, and young adults refer to individuals up to age 18, up to age 21 if they have an Individual 

Education Plan, or up to age 26 if they are transitioning to the adult mental health system.

The Statewide Peer Network Development Program for Recovery and Resiliency began in FY 

2014 and builds the capacity of statewide consumer-run, family member-run, and addiction 

recovery community organizations to promote infrastructure development across the mental

health and addiction recovery communities. This program is braided between the Mental Health

appropriation and the Substance Abuse Treatment appropriation to allow for collaborative

partnerships across the mental and substance use disorder fields. SAMHSA tracks any braided 

amounts spent or awarded under their distinct appropriations and ensures that funds are used for

purposes consistent with legislative direction and intent of the appropriations. Eligible

applicants for this program were those organizations that had an existing mental health or

addiction statewide network award from SAMHSA.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided continuation funds for 24 three-year Statewide Consumer

Network grants and 32 three-year Statewide Family Network grants, awarded a technical

assistance contract, and awarded nine one-year Statewide Peer Network Development Program

for Recovery and Resiliency grants. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will provide continuation funds for

13 Statewide Consumer Network grants, 26 Statewide Family Network grants, and a technical

assistance contract. In addition, SAMHSA will award a new cohort of Statewide Consumer 

Network, Statewide Family Network and Statewide Peer Network Development grants. All of 

these grants go to consumer-oriented community organizations. 

70 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $6,224,371

FY 2013 $6,140,243

FY 2014 $4,954,000

FY 2015 $4,954,000

FY 2016 $4,954,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $5.0 million at the program level. This is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to continue support for these grant programs

that promote consumer, family, and youth participation in the development of policies, programs, 

and quality assurance activities related to mental health systems reform across America.

The outputs and outcomes measures for Consumer and Family Network Programs are part of the

Mental Health - Other Capacity Activities outputs and outcomes table shown on page 110. 

Project LAUNCH

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

ProjectLAUNCH $34,555 $34,555 $34,555 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities...................................................................................................... States and Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

Project LAUNCH increases use of evidence-based practices that enhance the health of young 

children from birth through age eight. In FY 2008, Congress provided initial funding to implement

the Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health (Project LAUNCH) wellness

initiative. This funding increases grantees’ capacities to develop infrastructure and implement

prevention/promotion strategies proven to promote the health of young children. Project

LAUNCH drives federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local networks to coordinate key childserving systems and to integrate behavioral and physical health services.

71 
As of 2014, performance data for the program found: 

• Approximately 145,000 children and parents were assessed on social and emotional

functioning and screened for behavioral health issues in diverse settings (e.g., primary

care, childcare, and home visiting)

• Project LAUNCH-supported home visiting and family strengthening programs have

served nearly 2,300 families.

• Approximately 51,000 community providers have been trained on social-emotional and

behavioral health for young children.

• Over 116,000 individuals received evidence-based mental health services.

• Project LAUNCH data also indicate that nearly 2,600 new organizations are collaborating,

coordinating, and sharing resources to implement prevention/promotion strategies for

young children.

The multi-site evaluation of Project LAUNCH is ongoing. Phase one of the evaluation used a 

meta-analytical approach to assess the implementation of Project Launch. The findings indicate

that grantees successfully achieved three goals: improvements to the local child services system

in the LAUNCH communities; improvements to the state child services system; and

enhancements to the child and family services in the communities. In addition, Project LAUNCH

grantees have reported improved social and academic functioning among the targeted population, 

and 78 percent have reported decreases in problem behaviors among the targeted population. As

the program expands to new states and territories, the current phase of the multi-site evaluation

has evolved to a quasi-experimental design to better assess the impact of LAUNCH around the 

following: social and emotional development of children; externalizing and internalizing

behaviors of children; family relationships and mental health status of parents; cognitive

development of children; and physical health of children. 

GPRA data include the varying phases of a Project LAUNCH grant over a five-year cycle.

Grantees move from planning in year one, increasing capacity in years two and three, achieving

maximum service capacity in year four, and phasing down in year five. In FY 2013, three

LAUNCH cohorts were in full service implementation, while in 2014, because of a skipped year

of funding, only two cohorts of grantees were in the full service implementation phase of their

grant. This cycle explains why results in 2014 were slightly below projections in most categories.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided funds to support 22 five-year continuation grants, 15 five-year

new grants, and technical assistance and evaluation activities. In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to

support 31 five-year continuation grants, a new cohort of four-year grants, and a technical

assistance and evaluation activities. The new grant cohort provides support to states and tribes

that have successfully implemented Project LAUNCH with the goal of expanding the work

beyond the pilot communities to additional communities across the states and tribes. 

72 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $34,640,407

FY 2013 $32,828,505

FY 2014 $34,555,000

FY 2015 $34,555,000

FY 2016 $34,555,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $34.6 million at the program level. This is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding is requested to continue support of 35 five-year continuation 

grants that will improve health outcomes for young children.

73 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Mental Health-Project LAUNCH

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result /Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

2.3.94 Number of persons served

(Output)

FY 2014: 31,368

Target:

32,232

(Target Not Met)

38,588 38,594 +6

2.3.95 Number of persons trained in

mental illness prevention or mental

health promotion (Outcome)

FY 2014: 10,229

Target:

13,102

(Target Not Met)

13,102 13,102 Maintain

2.4.00 Number of 0-8 year old

children screened for mental

health or related interventions

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 36,731

Target:

44,775

(Target Not Met)

44,775 44,775 Maintain

2.4.01 Number of 0-8 year old

children referred to mental health or

related interventions(Outcome)

FY 2014: 8,575

Target:

9,114

(Target Not Met)

9,114 9,114 Maintain

74 
Mental Health System Transformation and Health Reform

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

MH System Transformation and Health Reform $10,556 $3,779 $3,779 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities...................................................................................................... States and Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Mental Health System Transformation and Health Reform includes two activities that

facilitate the transformation of the mental health delivery system: Mental Health Transformation

Grants (MHTG) and Transforming Lives through Supported Employment Grants.

The purpose of the MHTG is to foster adoption and implementation of permanent transformative

changes in how public mental health services are organized, managed and delivered so that they 

are consumer-driven, recovery-oriented and supported through evidence-based and best

practices. These grants support States and local governments to create and/or expand treatment

capacity related to prevention and wellness, trauma-informed care, military families, housing and

homelessness, jobs and the economy.

In FY 2013, MHT grantees trained more than 7,700 mental health and related workforce

personnel in specific mental-health related practices/activities as a result of the grant program.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided funds to 20 grantees to support the final year of five-year

MHTG grant project.

The Transforming Lives through Supported Employment Grant program began in FY 2014 as a 

focused effort to enhance state and community capacity to provide evidence-based supported 

employment (SE) programs for adults and youth with serious mental illnesses/emotional

disturbances (SMI/SED). Transforming Lives through Supported Employment Grants helps 

people with mental illnesses discover paths of self-sufficiency and recovery rather than disability

and dependence. These grants support mental health consumers, treatment providers, and

employers develop mutual understanding and successful relationships, with gainful employment

as the target outcome. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded seven five-year Transforming Lives through Supported

Employment grants. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will support the continuation of these grants. In

addition, SAMHSA will provide technical assistance.

75 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $10,602,923

FY 2013 $10,448,347

FY 2014 $10,556,000

FY 2015 $3,779,000

FY 2016 $3,779,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $3.8 million at the program level. This is the same as the

FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding is requested to support the continuation of seven five-year

Transforming Lives through Supported Employment Grants to enhance state and community 

capacity to provide evidence-based supported employment programs for adults and youth with

serious mental illnesses/emotional disturbances. 

76 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Mental Health System Transformation Grants

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result /Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

1.2.11 Number of persons in the

mental health and related workforce

trained in specific mental-health

related practices/activities as a 

result of the grant (Outcome)

FY 2014: 4,259

Target:

1,488 

(Target Exceeded) 

1,540 4,303 +2,763

1.2.21 Percentage of clients

receiving services who report

positive functioning at 6 month

follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 57.1

Target:

52.1 

(Target Exceeded) 

52.1 52.1 Maintain

1.2.22 Percentage of clients

receiving services who had a

permanent place to live in the

community at 6 month follow-up

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 76.7

Target:

73.7

(Target Exceeded) 

73.7 73.7 Maintain

1.2.23 Percentage of clients

receiving services who are

currently employed at 6 month

follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 32.2

Target:

30.7 

(Target Exceeded) 

30.7 30.7 Maintain

1.2.24 Number of individuals referred

to mental health or related services

(Outcome)

FY 2014: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2014

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

TBD TBD

77 
Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

PrimaryandBehavioralHealthCare Integration $49,877 $49,877 $26,004 -$23,873

Prevention & Public Health Fund (non-add) --- --- 26,004 +26,004

Primaryand BehavioralHealthCare IntegrationTTA 1,991 1,991 1,996 +5

Prevention & Public Health Fund (non-add) --- --- 1,996 +1,996

Authorizing Legislation ........................Sections 520A and 520K of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities...................................................... Qualified Community Mental Health Programs

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) program began in FY 2009 and

addresses the increased rates of morbidity and mortality among adults with serious mental

illnesses (SMI). These rates are due, in large part, to elevated incidence and prevalence of 

cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in people with SMI.

Physical health problems among people with SMI impact quality of life and contribute to

premature death. Empirical findings indicate the clear link between early mortality among

people with SMI and the lack of access to primary care services.

The PBHCI program supports two activities: PBHCI grants to community mental health centers

and the PBHCI Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Center, which is funded through a 

competitive cooperative agreement that is co-funded with the Health Resources and Services

Administration (HRSA). These two activities collectively support the coordination and

integration of primary care services into publicly funded community behavioral health settings.

The expected outcome of improved health status for people with SMI will be achieved by

encouraging grantees to engage in necessary partnerships, expand infrastructure, and increase the 

availability of primary health care and wellness services to individuals with mental illness.

Partnerships between primary care and behavioral health organizations, as well as information 

technology entities, are crucial to the success of this program. The population of focus for this

grant program is individuals with SMI and/or people with co-occurring disorders served by the 

public mental health system.

To date, SAMHSA has awarded 126 PBHCI grants. In FY 2014, the PBHCI grant program 

served more than 33,000 consumers. Improvements in three of four National Outcome Measures

– functioning, social connectedness, and housing – were consistently positive as a result of this

intervention. A cross-site evaluation of the PBHCI program funded by SAMHSA concluded in

September of 2013, which examined the impact of the PBHCI grants on physical health outcomes.

An additional PBCHI evaluation project, funded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for

Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), is currently examining the impact of the program on consumers’

use of medical services and their total health care costs as reflected in archival data from

Medicaid/Medicare. The new FY 2015 PBHCI grant application improvements stem

78 
from the results of the SAMHSA/HRSA evaluation. In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to award a 

new PBHCI evaluation contract that builds on recommendations from the FY 2013 evaluation

and seeks to use a more comprehensive approach to determine the impact of the PBHCI grants

on the health of the clients served. 

PCASI activities also support the braided HIV Continuum of Care effort to coordinate activities

across the Federal government to improve the delivery of HIV/AIDS services. There is significant

co-morbidity of hepatitis and HIV infection. Up to 20 percent of those with either substance 

use disorders or serious mental illness also are infected with viral hepatitis. In order to address

this, five percent of funds can be used to provide services to prevent, screen, test and refer to

treatment as clinically appropriate those at risk for or living with viral hepatitis. SAMHSA works

closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and HRSA to ensure these efforts

are complimentary and aligned to best serve individuals living with HIV.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA supported 16 four-year continuation grants as well as awarded 26 fouryear multi-funded new PBHCI grants and one technical assistance contract. In FY 2015, 

SAMHSA will support 16 continuation grants, a new cohort of 102 PBHCI grants, one technical

assistance contract, and one evaluation contract.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $67,744,995

FY 2013 $30,633,523

FY 2014 $51,868,000

FY 2015 $51,868,000

FY 2016 $28,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $28.0 million at the program level from the Prevention and

Public Health Fund. This is a decrease of $23.9 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. This

funding will continue to support the coordination and integration of primary care services into

publicly-funded community behavioral health settings. PBHCI grantees have made great strides

in demonstrating methods of integrating physical health care into specialty behavioral health

settings for people with serious mental illnesses. This learning is being incorporated into

SAMHSA guidance to the states around the block grants, SAMHSA’s consultation on the 

Medicaid health homes program, implementation of the section 223 program, and into a broader 

focus on integration across SAMHSA’s grant portfolio. 

79 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Primary & Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI)

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result /Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

3.2.40 Number of clients served

(Output)

FY 2014: 33,398

Target:

33,023

(Target Exceeded)

56,552 30,528 -26,024 

3.2.41 Percentage of clients

receiving services who report

positive functioning at 6 month

follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 56.4%

Target:

55.3%

(Target Exceeded)

49.9% 49.9% Maintain

3.2.42 Percentage of clients

receiving services who are

currently employed at 6 month

follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 21.4%

Target:

21.1%

(Target Exceeded)

22.1% 22.1% Maintain

3.2.43 Percentage of clients

receiving services who had a

permanent place to live in the

community at 6 month follow-up

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 70.4%

Target:

71.6%

(Target Not Met)

65.7% 65.7% Maintain

80 
Suicide Prevention Programs

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Suicide Prevention $60,032 $60,032 $62,032 +$2,000

National Strategy for SuicidePrevention (non-add) 2,000 2,000 4,000 +2,000

Prevention&PublicHealthFund (non-add) 2,000 --- --- ---

Suicide Lifeline (non-add) 7,198 7,198 7,198 ---

Prevention&PublicHealthFund (non-add) 1,700 --- --- ---

GLS- Youth SuicidePrevention - States(non-add) 35,427 35,427 35,427 ---

Prevention&PublicHealthFund (non-add) 5,800 12,000 10,000 -2,000

GLS- Youth SuicidePrevention -Campus(non-add) 6,488 6,488 6,488 ---

Prevention&PublicHealthFund (non-add) 1,500 --- --- ---

GLS - Suicide Prevention ResourceCenter(non-add) 5,988 5,988 5,988 ---

Prevention&PublicHealthFund (non-add) 1,000 --- --- ---

AI/ANSuicidePreventionInitiative (non-add) 2,931 2,931 2,931 ---

SAMHSA supports the goals and objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

(NSSP) though the Suicide Prevention Programs highlighted below. 

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

NationalStrategyfor Suicide Prevention $2,000 $2,000 $4,000 +$2,000

Prevention & Public Health Fund (non-add) 2,000 --- --- ---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities..................................................... States, Territories, and the District of Columbia 

Program Description and Accomplishments

This program supports states efforts to implement the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide 

Prevention (NSSP). While NSSP addresses all age groups and populations with specific needs

(e.g. military families; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and Native American

youth), the goals and objectives of the 2012 NSSP are focused on preventing suicide and suicide 

attempts among working-age adults 25 to 64 years old in order to reduce the overall suicide rate

and number of suicides in the U.S. nationally.

In 2008, suicide became the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and remained so through 

2010, the most recent year for which there is available mortality data. Previously, suicide had

81 
been the 11th leading cause of death. In 2013, SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and

Health reported that approximately 1.3 million Americans age 18 and over attempted suicide;

9.3 million had seriously considered suicide and 2.7 million made a plan. While youths have the 

highest rates of suicide attempts, middle-aged adults have the highest number of deaths by

suicide nationwide, and older adults have the highest rates of death by suicide. The nation’s 

suicide prevention efforts must go beyond youth and address the issues of suicidal thoughts, 

plans, attempts, and deaths among adults. 

Research has shown that implementing comprehensive public health approaches that make suicide 

prevention a priority within health and community systems can reduce the rates of death by

suicide as well as suicide attempts. The various aspects of the NSSP must be implemented to

accomplish the goal of turning around the annual growth in deaths by suicide, and actually

reducing that number significantly over the next few years.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded four new grants for five years to support states in implementing

the NSSP goals and objectives. States use NSSP funding to support efforts such as suicide

awareness, establishing emergency room referral processes, and improving clinical care practice

standards. The grants focused on preventing suicide and suicide attempts among working-age 

adults 25 to 64 years old. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will provide continuation funds for these four 

grants.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 $2,000,000

FY 2015 $2,000,000

FY 2016 $4,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $4.0 million, an increase of $2.0 million over the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. This increase will expand support so states can further establish evidence-based

suicide prevention efforts that support the goals and objectives of the NSSP. SAMHSA will

award four continuation grants and four new grants for five years to assist states in further

establishing evidence-based suicide prevention efforts that support the goals and objectives of 

the NSSP.

82 
Suicide Lifeline

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Suicide Lifeline $7,198 $7,198 $7,198 $---

Prevention&PublicHealthFund(non-add) 1,700 --- --- ---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities............................................................... States, Tribes, Community Organizations

Program Description and Accomplishments

Launched in FY 2005, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline), 1-800-273-TALK,

coordinates a network of 166 crisis centers across the United States by providing suicide 

prevention and crisis intervention services to individuals seeking help at any time, day or night.

The Lifeline routes calls from anywhere in the country to a network of certified local crisis

centers that can then link callers to local emergency, mental health, and social services resources.

The Lifeline averaged 112,475 calls per month through November 2014, including a peak of 

133,762 calls in August. SAMHSA evaluation studies have found that when a sample of suicidal

callers to the Lifeline are asked, “...to what extent did calling the crisis hotline stop you from

killing yourself?” 69 percent respond “a lot” and 21.6 percent respond “a little.”

Since FY 2007, SAMHSA has partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that

veterans calling the Lifeline have 24/7 access to a specialized veterans’ suicide prevention 

hotline. In FY 2014, over 35,500 callers per month that pressed “one” were seamlessly connected

to the veterans’ crisis line. The Lifeline is also responding to calls from active duty military and

their families. SAMHSA is in the process of developing a suicide hotline outcome measure to

determine the number of people who contacted the Lifeline who believe the call prevented

them from taking their lives.

The Lifeline Evaluation is a part of the National Suicide Prevention Evaluation (NSPE), which

includes all of the programs in SAMHSA’s suicide prevention portfolio. The NSPE is a new

evaluation, which will assess the effect of SAMHSA’s suicide prevention initiatives on reducing 

suicide attempts, and mortality due to suicide. The NSPE will also provide training and technical

assistance to grantees related to evaluation, data collection, and surveillance. 

Prior Lifeline evaluations have been the primary vehicle for collaborating with the crisis centers

to adopt standards and guidelines based on evaluation results. These evaluation-driven standards

and guidelines have, to date, focused on suicide risk assessment, emergency intervention, and

follow-up protocols. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded 12 three-year crisis center follow up continuation grants which

provide follow up services to suicidal people who have contacted the Lifeline. SAMHSA also

awarded a supplement to the Lifeline from the Prevention and Public Health Fund. In FY 2015, 

83 
SAMHSA will award 12 crisis center follow up continuation grants, continue support for the 

evaluation contract, and award a new three-year Lifeline grant.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $6,373,363

FY 2013 $6,085,275

FY 2014 $7,198,000

FY 2015 $7,198,000

FY 2016 $7,198,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $7.2 million at the program level. This is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA is requesting funding to continue to support the National

Suicide Prevention Lifeline which routes calls from anywhere in the country to a network of 

certified local crisis centers that can then link callers to local emergency, mental health, and

social services resources. In addition, the funding will support National Suicide Prevention

Lifeline Crisis Center grants to focus on providing follow up to suicidal people discharged from

emergency rooms and inpatient units.

Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention - State and Campus

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs ofRegional & NationalSignificance

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

GLS-YouthSuicidePrevention- States $35,427 $35,427 $35,427 $---

Prevention&PublicHealthFund(non-add) $5,800 $12,000 $10,000 -2,000

GLS-YouthSuicidePrevention-Campus $6,488 $6,488 $6,488 ---

Prevention&PublicHealthFund(non-add) 1,500 --- --- ---

Authorizing Legislation ..................... Sections 520E and 520E-2 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities............................................... States, Tribes, and Institutions of Higher Education

Program Description and Accomplishments

84 
Campus Suicide Prevention program has awarded 190 grants to 175 institutions of higher 

education, inclusive of tribal colleges and universities, to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.

As of June 2014, 747,108 individuals have participated in 25,608 training events or educational 

seminars provided by grantees. Grantees often use their funds to provide suicide prevention 

training sessions in their communities. The most common approach was gatekeeper training,

designed to help trainees recognize suicide risk in young people, address the immediate needs of 

these individuals, and refer young people to appropriate services. About one third of trainees

received training through campus-sponsored courses and educational seminars. More than 64 

percent of trainees participated in state-sponsored training activities and 6.7 percent in tribalsponsored training activities.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided continuation funds for 26 GLS State/Tribal grants and 41 GLS

Campus programs, awarded 26 new GLS State/Tribal grants, 15 new GLS Campus grants, and

one new evaluation contract. In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to provide continuation funds for 33 

GLS State/Tribal grants and 33 GLS Campus grants and award a new cohort of grants for both 

GLS State/Tribal and GLS Campus programs. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $43,135,592

FY 2013 $41,323,125

FY 2014 $41,915,000

FY 2015 $41,915,000

FY 2016 $41,915,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $41.9 million at the program level with $31.9 million from

Budget Authority (BA) and $10.0 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF).

This is the same as FY 2015 Enacted Level with a $2.0 million decrease from PPHF and a 

$2.0 million increase in BA. SAMHSA requests funding to continue developing and

implementing youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies involving public-private 

collaborations among youth serving institutions. In addition, the funding will support prevention

of suicide and suicide attempts at institutions of higher education. 

85 
Suicide Prevention Resource Center

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

GLS - Suicide Prevention Resource Center $5,988 $5,988 $5,988 $---

Prevention & Public Health Fund (non-add) 1,000 --- --- ---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520C of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................. Competitive Grants 

Eligible Entities.................................................... Domestic Public and Private Nonprofit Entities,

Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations, Community and Faith-Based Organizations

Program Description and Accomplishments

In addition to programs that build suicide prevention capacity, SAMHSA also supports the

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). The purpose of this program is to build national

capacity for preventing suicide by providing technical assistance, training, and resources to assist

states, tribes, organizations, SAMHSA grantees to develop suicide prevention strategies

(including programs, interventions, and policies) that advance the National Strategy for Suicide 

Prevention (NSSP), with the overall goal of reducing suicides and suicidal behaviors in the 

nation. This work includes support of the public-private National Action Alliance for Suicide 

Prevention, and working to advance high-impact objectives of the NSSP. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded the continuation of the five-year SPRC grant and a supplement 

from the Prevention and Public Health Fund. In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to award a new fiveyear SPRC grant.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $5,597,631

FY 2013 $5,338,840

FY 2014 $5,988,000

FY 2015 $5,988,000

FY 2016 $5,988,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $6.0 million at the program level. This is the same as the

FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding is requested to continue to promote the implementation of the 

NSSP and enhance the nation’s mental health infrastructure by providing states, tribes,

government agencies, private organizations, colleges and universities, and suicide survivor and

86 
mental health consumer groups with access to the science and experience that can support their

efforts to develop programs, implement interventions, and promote policies to prevent suicide.

AI/AN Suicide Prevention

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

AI/AN Suicide Prevention Initiative $2,931 $2,931 $2,931 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities.......................................................................................................... Not applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center (Tribal TTA Center) is an innovative 

training and technical assistance project that helps tribal communities facilitate the development 

and implementation of comprehensive and collaborative community-based prevention plans to

reduce violence, bullying, and suicide among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth. 

These plans mobilize tribal communities existing social and educational resources to meet their

goals. To date, 65 tribal communities have received specialized technical assistance and support 

in suicide prevention and related areas. In addition, more than 9,200 members of these

communities received training in prevention and mental health promotion.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA supported the continuation of this five-year contract. In FY 2015, 

SAMHSA will continue to support this activity through the existing contract. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $2,938,436

FY 2013 $2,784,738

FY 2014 $2,931,000

FY 2015 $2,931,000

FY 2016 $2,931,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $2.9 million at the program level. This is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to continue support of comprehensive, 

broad, focused, and intensive training and technical assistance to federally recognized tribes and

other AI/AN communities, seeking to address and prevent mental and substance use disorders, 

suicide, and promote mental health through the contract continuation. 

87 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Suicide Prevention

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1

Programs included are the Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Program and the Garrett Lee Smith

State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Program. 2

Changed from previously reported to reflect baseline results.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result /Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

2.3.59 Total number of individuals

trained in youth suicide prevention

(Intermediate Outcome)

FY 2014: 143,3691

Target:

36,078

(Target Exceeded)

154,369 160,082 +5,713

2.3.60 Total number of youth

screened (Output)

FY 2014: 26,053

Target:

3,427

(Target Exceeded)

61,626 64,091 +2,465

2.3.61 Increase of the number of

calls answered by the suicide

hotline (Output)

FY 2014: 1,308,825

Target:

765,638

(Target Exceeded)

1,308,825 1,308,825 Maintain

3.2.37 Increase of the number of

individuals referred to mental health

or related services (Output)

FY 2014: 8,219

Target:

5,911

(Target Exceeded)

8,8502 9,177 +327

88 
Homelessness Prevention and Housing Programs

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Homelessness Prevention Programs $30,696 $30,696 $30,696 $---

Homelessness 2,296 2,296 2,296 ---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities........................................ States, Domestic Public and Community Organizations, 

Private Nonprofit Entities, Community-based Public or Nonprofit Entities

Program Description and Accomplishments

One of the goals of SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative on Recovery Support is to ensure that

permanent housing and supportive services are available for individuals with mental and

substance use disorders. A significant portion of persons who are chronically homeless have 

mental and/or substance use disorders.20 The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, in

which HHS participates, has set aggressive goals to permanently house and address the needs of 

those who are chronically homeless and/or who are veterans and homeless. Two programs are

helping to support the goal of this Strategic Initiative: Grants for the Benefit of Homeless

Individuals-Services in Supportive Housing (GBHI-SSH) and Cooperative Agreements to

Benefit Homeless Individuals (CABHI).

The first program, GBHI-SSH, implemented in FY 2007, provides comprehensive services

including outreach, engagement, intensive case management, mental health services, substance

abuse treatment, and benefits support, in conjunction with linkage to permanent supportive 

housing. The target population is individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and/or a cooccurring mental and substance use disorder and their families who have been continuously 

homeless for at least one year or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three

years. In FY 2014, the GBHI-SSH program’s outreach efforts resulted in 64,627 total contacts

made.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided $2.0 million to five grantees to support the final year of the 

five-year GBHI-SSH project period. This marked the last year of funding for the GBHI-SSH

grants.

The CABHI program, initiated in FY 2011, supports treatment and the development and/or 

expansion of local systems that provide permanent housing and supportive services. This

20 HUD’s 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress estimates that 26 percent of homeless adults

staying in shelters live with serious mental illness and an estimated 46 percent live with severe mental illness and/or

substance use disorders.

89 
includes integration of treatment and other critical services for individuals with mental and

substance use disorders; coordination at the local level with state or local Public Housing 

Authorities; local mental health, substance abuse, and primary care provider organizations; the 

local Continuum of Care (CoC); the state Medicaid Office; and the state Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Authorities. As of FY 2013, 42 funded grants served 1,939 people. Evidence 

found that individuals served had reduced experiences of depression and anxiety (62.5 percent

and 66.2 percent respectively). Data show that between intake and six-month follow up, 

abstinence from substance use increased by six percent, injection drug use decreased by

22 percent, and stability in housing increased by 49.8 percent.21 This is a jointly funded program

between SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Center for Substance 

Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided $11.9 million ($4.6 million from CMHS and $7.2 million from

CSAT) to support continuation funding for the 19 three-year CABHI grants to community-based

public or nonprofit entities and approximately $5.2 million (from CMHS) to support nine twoyear grant supplements. In FY 2015, SAMSHA plans to support 10 CABHI continuation grants.

The CABHI-States program, which began in FY 2013, builds on the CABHI program by working 

with states to provide accessible, effective, comprehensive, coordinated/integrated, and

evidenced-based treatment services; peer supports; and enhancement or development of a 

statewide plan to ensure sustained partnerships across public health and housing systems that

will result in short-and long-term strategies to support behavioral health services for individuals 

who experience chronic homelessness. This activity is also jointly funded with SAMHSA’s

CSAT.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided approximately $20.4 million to award seven three-year new

CABHI-States grants to State Mental Health Authorities (SMHAs) or the Single State Agencies

(SSAs) for Substance Abuse to work with state and local Public Housing Authorities and state

Medicaid agencies to develop systematic, cost-effective, and integrated approaches to housing 

and behavioral health treatment and services for individuals with mental and/or substance use 

disorders experiencing homelessness.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA will support eight new three-year CABHI-States and 18 three-year new

CABHI-States Enhancement grants to build upon lessons learned from the CABHI program.

SAMHSA awarded a consolidated evaluation contract in FY 2011 to identify commonalities

across the programs to compare effectiveness of the programs and of the various models of 

services delivery, including evidence-based practices, used within and across programs. The

first new cohort of CABHI grants was added to the original number of grants included an award

of the evaluation contract. This contract will provide evaluation support through FY 2015. In

FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to support three contracts (a national evaluation; technical assistance;

and Security Insurance/Social Security Disability Outreach, Access and Recovery [SOAR].

21 Services Accountability Improvement System (SAIS); www.samhsa-gpra.samhsa.gov; 2013.

90 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $33,073,373

FY 2013 $31,343,438

FY 2014 $32,992,000

FY 2015 $32,992,000

FY 2016 $32,992,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $33.0 million at the program level. This is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. This funding will continue to enhance or develop the infrastructure of 

states and their treatment service systems to increase capacity to provide accessible, effective,

comprehensive, coordinated/integrated, and evidence-based treatment services; permanent

housing; peer support; and other critical services for those who experience homelessness or 

chronic homelessness. In addition, funding is requested to continue to support innovative 

strategies to provide needed services and supports to individuals who are experiencing

homelessness with substance use and mental health disorders in the community, by assisting

providers in strengthening their infrastructure for delivering and sustaining housing to support 

recovery with integrated behavioral health, and providing other critical services.

91 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Mental Health Homelessness Prevention Programs

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

3.4.01 Number of clients served

(Output)

FY 2014: 3,976

Target:

5,034

(Target Not Met)

4,959 4,959 Maintain

3.4.02 Increase of the percentage of

adults with severe mental illness

receiving homelesssupport services

who report positive functioning at 6 

month follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 66.0 %

Target:

63.1 % 

(Target Exceeded)

66.1 % 66.1 % Maintain

3.4.03 Percentage of adults

receiving services who were

currently employed at 6 month

follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 25.9 %

Target:

15.6 % 

(Target Exceeded)

26.0 % 26.0 % Maintain

3.4.05 Percentage of adults receiving

services who had a permanent place

to live in the community at 6 month

follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 83.0 %

Target:

60.6 % 

(Target Exceeded)

81.2 % 81.2 % Maintain

92 
Minority AIDS

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Minority AIDS $9,224 $9,224 $15,935 +$6,711

HIV/AIDS Education 771 771 771 ---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities..................................... Community and faith-based organizations, Tribes, Urban,

Indian organizations, Hospitals, Public and private universities and colleges

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Minority AIDS program enhances and expands the provision of effective, culturally

competent, HIV/AIDS-related mental health services in minority communities for people living 

with or at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) reports significantly higher rates of HIV/AIDS among racial/ethnic minorities compared

with the general population. African Americans accounted for 44 percent and Hispanics

accounted for 20 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in 2009, per the most recent data

available (CDC, 2011). Psychiatric and psychosocial complications are frequently not diagnosed 

or addressed at the time of HIV diagnosis or through the course of the HIV/AIDS disease

process. When untreated, these complications are associated with increased morbidity and

mortality, impaired quality of life, and numerous medical and/or behavioral challenges, such as

non-adherence with the treatment regimen. More than 5,800 individuals received services in

FY 2014. 

The Mental Health Care Provider Education in HIV/AIDS Education program disseminates

knowledge and training on the treatment of the neuropsychiatric and psychological complications

of HIV/AIDS to front-line providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers,

primary care practitioners, and medical students. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services, Center for Substance Abuse 

Prevention, and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment supported a pilot HIV Continuum of

Care grant program, which supports behavioral health screening, primary prevention, and

treatment for racial/ethnic minority populations with or at high risk for mental and substance use 

disorders and HIV. This includes substance abuse primary prevention/treatment service

programs, community mental health programs, and HIV integrated programs that can either colocate or have fully integrated HIV prevention and medical care services. This program also

provides substance abuse and HIV primary prevention services in local communities served by

the behavioral health program. In addition, because of the significant co-morbidity of viral

hepatitis with HIV infection and because viral hepatitis occurs in up to 20 percent of those with

either substance use disorders or serious mental illnesses, five percent of the allocated funds 

were used to provide services to prevent, screen, test, and refer to treatment as clinically

93 
appropriate those at risk for or living with viral hepatitis. In addition SAMHSA awarded a 

contract to evaluate the MAI program. This contract will evaluate both the process and the

impact of programs that integrate mental health promotion, substance abuse prevention and

treatment, HIV prevention, testing, and counseling activities, linkage to services, and medical

treatment, and care (as programmatically appropriate) for people most at risk for HIV infection

and living with HIV/AIDS.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded 34 four-year HIV Continuum of Care grants and a technical

assistance contract. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will fund the continuation of 34 HIV Continuum of 

Care grants, a technical assistance contract, and award a new evaluation contract.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $10,037,992

FY 2013 $9,571,658

FY 2014 $9,995,000

FY 2015 $9,995,000

FY 2016 $16,706,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $16.7 million at the program level. This is an increase of $6.7 

million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding is realigned from CSAT to CMHS in order to

enable SAMHSA to more effectively administer the braided MAI-Continuum of Care Program

which will provide fully integrated medical care and mental and substance use disorder treatment

to those living with HIV. This funding will enhance and expand the provision of effective,

culturally competent, HIV/AIDS-related mental health services in minority communities for

people living with HIV/AIDS.

The outputs and outcomes measures for Minority AIDS are part of the Mental Health - Other

Capacity Activities outputs and outcomes table shown on page 110. 

94 
Criminal and Juvenile Justice Programs

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Criminal Juvenile Justice Programs $4,269 $4,269 $4,269 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities.................... Tribal Court Administrator, the Administrative Office of the Courts, 

the Single State Agency for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the State Mental

Health Agency, the Designated State Drug Court Coordinator, or local

governmental unit 

Program Description and Accomplishments

Studies of people involved in the criminal justice system have found higher rates of co-occurring 

psychiatric and substance use disorders than the general population.22 The number of individuals 

involved in the criminal justice system with mental and/or substance use disorders whose 

treatment needs are unmet by community treatment and supportive services is significant. As a 

result, these individuals are at greater risk for parole or probation failure leading to reincarceration at substantial additional governmental and societal cost. There is an ongoing need

for broader implementation of effective treatment and reentry services for this high-risk, mostly

nonviolent population.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA supported a new four-year cohort of Behavioral Health Treatment Court 

Collaborative grants (BHTCC) from Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment

appropriations. The purpose of this grant program is to allow municipal courts more flexibility

to collaborate with multiple criminal justice system components and local community treatment

and recovery providers to address the behavioral health needs of adults who are involved with

the criminal justice system. The court collaborative focuses on diversion of adults with behavioral 

health problems from the criminal justice system, including alternatives to incarceration. The

program supports community behavioral health services for individuals with mental and/or

substance disorders and includes a focus on veterans involved with the criminal justice system.

An evaluation of the first cohort of grantees was completed in September 2014. Grantees built 

multi-agency workgroups or collaboratives to oversee programs; all grantees expanded access to

specialty courts because of the grant. Most grantees anticipated that new screening and

assessment processes addressing a broader array of behavioral health needs would continue after

grant funding ended. Program innovations were divided into four main groups including court 

22 Steadman, HJ, Osher, FC, Robbins, PC, Case, BF, & Samuels, S. (2009). Prevalence of serious mental illness

among jail inmates. Psychiatric Services, 60(6), 761-765.

95 
and treatment collaboration, court and community collaboration, unified cross-court screening

and referral, and meaningful peer involvement. The BHTCC served over 1,400 persons, many of

them with co-occurring disorders and with significant trauma exposure in their lives. Based on 

self-report data, program participants generally experienced improvements in mental illness and

reductions in substance use.

An evaluation of the first cohort of BHTCC grantees was completed in September 2014. 

Grantees built multi-agency workgroups or collaboratives to oversee programs. All grantees

expanded access to specialty courts as a result of the grant. Most grants anticipated that new

screening and assessment processes addressing a broader array of behavioral health needs would 

continue after grant funding ended. Program innovations were divided into four main groups,

including court and treatment collaboration, court and community collaboration, unified crosscourt screening and referral, and meaningful peer involvement. Over 1,400 persons were served

through the BHTCC, many of them with co-occurring disorders and with significant trauma

exposure in their lives. Based on self-report data, program participants generally experienced

improvements in mental health and reductions in substance use.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded the final year of one five-year continuation grant and 17 new

four-year BHTCC grants. In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to provide continuation support for 17 

grants, a technical assistance contract, and award a new evaluation contract. The new BHTCC

evaluation will focus on examining the clinical and functional outcomes of program participants 

with behavioral health disorders. The intent of the FY 2015 evaluation is to build off of the 

findings from the first cohort and to more deeply examine both the features of successful

collaborations between the courts and community services as well as the clinical and functional 

outcomes of program participants with behavioral health disorders. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $6,671,367

FY 2013 $5,876,801

FY 2014 $4,296,000

FY 2015 $4,296,000

FY 2016 $4,296,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $4.3 million at the program level. This is the same level as the

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to continue the support for the Behavioral

Health Treatment Court Collaboratives (BHTCC) grant program. Court collaboratives will focus

on diversion of adults with behavioral health problems from the criminal justice system and

alternatives to incarceration. These programs will continue to provide comprehensive treatment

and recovery support services for adolescents and adults with substance use disorders coming 

into contact with the criminal justice system as well as offenders re-entering the community. 

SAMHSA proposes to focus this portfolio more strategically to explore new approaches and a 

96 
variety of models within the drug court umbrella rather than using a significant portion of 

SAMHSA’s limited funding to support what is already a robust system.

The outputs and outcomes measures for Criminal and Juvenile Justice Programs is part of the 

Mental Health - Other Capacity Activities outputs and outcomes table shown on page 110. 

Practice Improvement and Training

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Practice Improvement and Training $7,828 $7,828 $7,828 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities............................................ 105 Nationally Recognized HBCUs, Federal Partners

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA facilitates health integration by engaging in activities that support mental health

system transformation and reform. The Practice Improvement and Training programs address

the need for disseminating key information, such as evidence-based mental health practices, to

the mental health delivery system through three activities: the Historically Black Colleges and

Universities Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health (HBCU-CFE) program, the 

Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs), and the Transforming Lives through 

Supported Employment Grant Program.

The purpose of the HBCU-CFE is to network the 105 HBCUs in the United States and promote

behavioral health workforce development through expanding knowledge of best practices,

developing leadership, and encouraging community partnerships that enhance the participation

of African Americans in the substance use disorder treatment and mental health professions. The

comprehensive focus of the HBCU-CFE will simultaneously expand service capacity on 

campuses and in other treatment venues.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded a three-year new HBCU-Center of Excellence grant to a 

consortium of HBCUs with a lead university. SAMHSA will continue this effort in FY 2015. 

The RRTCs develop, test, and disseminate a broad range of care models and practices that

promote and support recovery for adults with mental illnesses and support resilience and recovery

among youth and young adults with serious mental health challenges. The RRTCs are funded in

partnership with the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation

Research. Currently there are two RRTCs funded for up to five years. Program outcomes include 

the development of new treatments and interventions, trainings, workforce development, and 

new products. 

97 
In FY 2014, SAMHSA continued funding for the two RRTCs and will continue this funding in

FY 2015. 

The Recovery into Practice contract supports the expansion and integration of recovery-oriented

care delivered by mental health providers through training and education, policy and analysis,

and materials development. The effort crosses professional mental health disciplines to provide 

education and training on what recovery-oriented care is and how to implement it, hold meetings

with stakeholders, establish collaborative relations with provider and consumer leaders, and

conduct research and literature reviews on the current state of recovery-oriented care, knowledge 

and attitudes.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded the Recovery into Practice contract and in FY 2015 to support 

the continuation of this contract. In addition, in FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to award a Programs

to Achieve Wellness contract to promote and facilitate wellness initiatives for people with or at

risk for mental disorders, including those with the most serious mental illnesses and with cooccurring substance use disorders. The project will achieve this by engaging people who have 

lived through their own experience with mental disorders and/or co-occurring substance use 

disorders, national organizations, communities, states, and tribes in the promotion of evidencebased tools for wellness.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $7,863,111

FY 2013 $7,413,110

FY 2014 $7,828,000

FY 2015 $7,828,000

FY 2016 $7,828,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $7.8 million at the program level. This is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to address the need for disseminating key 

information, such as evidence-based mental health practices, to the mental health delivery system

and facilitate health reform by engaging in activities that support mental health system

transformation and reform.

The outputs and outcomes measures for Practice Improvement and Training are part of the 

Mental Health - Science and Service Activities outputs and outcomes table shown on page 111. 

98 
Consumer and Consumer-Supporter TA Centers

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Consumer and Consumer Supporter TechnicalAssistance Centers $1,918 $1,918 $1,918 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................. Competitive Grants

Eligible Entities....................................................................................... Community Organizations

Program Description and Accomplishments

First funded in 1992, the purpose of Consumer and Consumer-Supporter TA Centers is to

provide technical assistance to facilitate the quality improvement of the mental health system by

promoting consumer directed approaches for adults with serious mental illnesses. Such

approaches maximize consumer self-determination and recovery and assist individuals with

serious mental illness by increasing their level of community involvement through work, school

and social connectedness, decreasing their dependence on a variety of social service programs

and decreasing unnecessary or inappropriate psychiatric hospitalization. This program also

improves collaboration among consumers, families, advocates, providers, and administrators and

facilitates community mental health services to be more consumer driven and family focused. 

In FY 2014, more than 9,500 persons received training and more than 1,700 consumers and

family members participated in mental health-related planning and systems improvement. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided support for the final year of five five-year continuation grants.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to award a new cohort of five regionally focused Consumer and

Consumer-Supporter TA Centers for the period of five years.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $1,923,358

FY 2013 $1,875,102

FY 2014 $1,918,000

FY 2015 $1,918,000

FY 2016 $1,918,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $1.9 million at the program level. This is the same level as the

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA requests funding to provide technical assistance to facilitate

the quality improvement of the mental health system by promoting consumer directed

approaches for adults with Serious Mental Illness.

99 
The outputs and outcomes measures for Consumer and Consumer-Supporter TA Centers are part

of the Mental Health - Science and Service Activities outputs and outcomes table shown on

page 111. 

Disaster Response

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Disaster Response $1,953 $1,953 $1,953 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities........................................................ Domestic Public or Private Nonprofit Entities

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA helps ensure that the nation is prepared to address the behavioral health needs that

follow a natural or man-made disaster. SAMHSA focuses on three major programs: the Crisis

Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP), the Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH), and

the use of any allocated supplemental funds to support survivors of natural and man-made

disasters.

SAMHSA, through an interagency agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA), operates the CCP. This program will assist individuals and communities in recovering 

from presidentially declared disasters through the provision of community-based behaviorally 

oriented outreach and psycho-educational services. SAMHSA provides technical assistance,

program guidance and monitoring, as well as oversight of the CCP. SAMHSA and FEMA

jointly fund a Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) designed to provide additional 

technical assistance, strategic planning, consultation, and logistical support. 

SAMHSA’s DDH is a toll-free, multilingual crisis systems service available 24/7 via telephone 

(1-800-985-5990) and SMS (text ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746) to residents in the United States and its

territories who are experiencing emotional distress resulting from disasters. In FY 2014, the 

DDH received 6,436 calls and 7,848 text messages from 720 users.

Periodically, SAMHSA receives additional funding to help survivors of a particular emergency

or disaster. In FY 2013, SAMHSA received a total of $7.5 million in supplemental funds to

assist the survivors of Hurricane Sandy. Efforts focused on providing behavioral health

treatment, restoring the capability of medication-assisted substance abuse treatment services in

the impacted areas, ensuring the operation of the DDH, and conducting resiliency training with

educators. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA continued to support the DDH in the provision of crisis counseling

services across the nation. Funding continued to support the DTAC in the provision of technical

100 
assistance, consultation, and information dissemination. These services are designed to assist

SAMHSA in advancing state and local capacity to deliver effective behavioral health services

that are well integrated with traditional public health and disaster recovery efforts. These

activities will continue in FY 2015. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $1,052,008

FY 2013 $996,982

FY 2014 $1,953,000

FY 2015 $1,953,000

FY 2016 $1,953,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $2.0 million at the program level. This is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA is requesting funding to continue the support of a nationally 

available disaster distress crisis counseling telephone line through a connection to local crisis

lines throughout the country and the DTAC.

The outputs and outcomes measures for Disaster Response are part of the Mental Health - 

Science and Service Activities outputs and outcomes table shown on page 111. 

Tribal Behavioral Health Grants

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

TribalBehavioralHealthGrants $4,988 $4,988 $15,000 +$10,012

PHSEvaluationFunds(non-add) --- --- 5,000 +5,000

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities....................................................................................................................... Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)

youth ages 8 to 24 years.23 AI/AN high school students report higher rates of suicidal behaviors 

(serious thoughts of suicide, making suicide plans, attempting suicide, and getting medical

23 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fatal injury data, 2010. Web-based Injury statistics Query and

Reporting System. Available at www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html. Accessed May 27, 2014.

101 
attention for a suicide attempt) than the general population of U.S. high school students.24 In

addition, about 90 percent of those who die by suicide had a mental disorder at the time of their

deaths.25

In FY 2014, Congress appropriated $5.0 million to SAMHSA to address the high incidence of 

substance abuse and suicide among AI/AN populations. The Appropriations Committee

recommended that HHS award 20 competitive grants to tribal entities with the highest rates of

suicide for effective and promising strategies that address substance abuse and suicide and

promote mental health among AI/AN young people.

SAMHSA awarded Tribal Behavioral Health competitive grants of up to $0.2 million annually 

for a total of five years to 20 tribes or tribal organizations with high rates of suicide in FY 2014. 

The grants will help grantees develop and implement a plan that addresses suicide and substance

abuse, thereby promoting mental health among tribal youth. In addition, SAMHSA’s Tribal

Technical Assistance Center provides technical assistance to grantees to support their ability to

achieve their goals. An evaluation component will allow grantees and SAMHSA to work

collaboratively to monitor progress and learn from each other. SAMHSA will incorporate 

lessons learned to enhance this program and other national efforts to reduce suicide and substance

abuse and support positive mental health among AI/ANs. SAMHSA will continue the support of 

this program in FY 2015. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 $4,988,000

FY 2015 $4,988,000

FY 2016 $15,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request for the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant (TBHG) program is

$30.0 million, including $15.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 million in

the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This request represents an increase over the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level of $10.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 million

for a newly established line in the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This funding is

part of Generation Indigenous, a Native youth initiative focused on removing possible barriers to

success for Native youth. This initiative will take a comprehensive, culturally appropriate 

24 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Available at

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/index.htm. Accessed May 27, 2014.

25 American Association of Suicidology. (2012). Suicide in the USA Based on 2010 Data. Washington, DC:

American Association of Suicidology. Available at:

http://www.suicidology.org/Portals/14/docs/Resources/FactSheets/SuicideUSA2012.pdf.

102 
approach to help improve the lives and opportunities for Native youth. In addition to HHS,

multiple agencies, including the Departments of Interior, Education, Housing and Urban

Development, Agriculture, Labor, and Justice, are working collaboratively with tribes to address

issues facing Native youth. This funding will allow SAMHSA to expand activities that are

critical to preventing substance abuse and promoting mental health and resiliency among youth 

in tribal communities. The additional funding will expand these activities to approximately 103 

additional tribes and tribal entities. With the expansion of the TBHG program, SAMHSA aims

to reduce substance use and the incidence of suicide attempts among Native youth and to address

behavioral health conditions which impact learning in Bureau of Indian Education-funded 

schools. The TBHG program will support mental health promotion and substance use prevention

activities for high-risk Native youth and their families, enhance early detection of mental and

substance use disorders among Native youth, and increase referral to treatment.

103 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Tribal Behavioral Health

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

2.4.10 Number of grantees reporting a

decrease in underage drinking in their

community (Output)

FY 2016: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2017

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

2.4.11 Number of participants receiving 

evidence-based mental health – related 

services as a result of the grant 

(Output)

FY 2016: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

2.4.12 Number of youth age 10 – 24 who

received mental health or related services

after screening, referral or attempt

(Output)

FY 2016: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

2.4.13 The number of

programs/organizationsthat implemented

specific mental-health related

practices/activities as a result of the grant

(Outcome)

FY 2016: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

104 
Grants for Adult Treatment, Screening, and Brief Response

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Grants for Adult Treatment, Screening, and Briefing Response --- --- $2,896 +$2,896

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities........................................................................................................... Communities,

Primary Care Settings (e.g. emergency departments, primary care clinics, and

obstetrics/gynecology clinics),

Academic Research Settings in conjunction with Primary Care Settings

Program Description

The effects of trauma can significantly harm the behavioral health of individuals, families, and

communities and create challenges for public institutions and service systems. Although many

individuals who experience a traumatic event will go on with their lives without lasting negative 

effects, others will have more difficulty and experience traumatic stress reactions. With

appropriate support and intervention, individuals can overcome traumatic experiences. However,

most individuals go without these services and support. Unaddressed trauma significantly

increases the risk of mental and substance use disorders, chronic physical diseases, and early

death. Thus, the ability to address proactively the effects of trauma is an important component

of effective behavioral health service delivery.

Studies from research and clinical practice have increasingly documented the connection 

between experiences of traumatic events and physical and behavioral health problems. Building

on these findings, SAMHSA released its paper “SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance 

for a Trauma-Informed Approach” in July 2014. In this paper, SAMHSA put forward a 

framework for addressing trauma and implementing a trauma-informed approach in various 

health and human service sectors. Recognizing that individuals with experiences of trauma are

found in multiple service sectors, not just in behavioral health, SAMHSA’s framework was

intentionally generalizable to different service systems. Particularly in primary care, many

patients have trauma histories that affect their health and behavioral health. These experiences

are rarely addressed, precluding positive health outcomes. In part, this was the rationale for the 

recommendation to examine past histories of trauma put forth by the Institute of Medicine report 

on Women’s Preventive Services (IOM).26

In 2014 and 2015, SAMHSA, in conjunction with its federal partners at the National Institutes of 

Health, Office of Women’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, CDC,

26 http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Clinical-Preventive-Services-for-Women-Closing-the-Gaps.aspx.

105 
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Administration on Children and Families,

convened a series of expert meetings and virtual discussions to address screening for trauma,

providing brief responses and facilitated referrals, and creating trauma-informed approaches in

primary care and public health settings. Along with trauma survivors, research-practitioners 

working on this issue in primary care settings, such as emergency departments, community 

health clinics, Ryan White clinics, family practice and ob-gyn settings provided valuable

information on strategies for addressing trauma in these settings. The challenges and the potential 

health impacts of appropriate screening and responses in primary care were clearly delineated,

further advancing SAMHSA’s understanding of the need for and complexity of addressing 

trauma in these non-behavioral health settings.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $2,896,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $2.9 million, an increase of $2.9 million from the FY 2015 

Enacted Level to implement GATSBR. The program will facilitate and evaluate the impact of 

appropriate trauma screening and responses in primary care in order to further advance the

nation’s understanding of the need for, and complexity of, addressing trauma in non-behavioral 

health settings. SAMHSA, in consultation with its federal partners, is developing the concept

and design for these grants.

Crisis Systems: Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Crisis Systems --- --- $5,000 +$5,000

Authorizing Legislation ........................................ Sections 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities...........................................................................................States and Communities

Program Description

Behavioral health crises are critical times for intervention and treatment and key times to engage

individuals in on-going treatment and recovery. Such crises often cause great disruption for

individuals and those around them, including family members, teachers, law enforcement, and

106 
employers. Well-managed crisis interventions can result in positive outcomes for the individual, 

family, and community, including increased understanding of mental and substance use

disorders, while poorly managed crisis situations can result in frustration, increased health and

social services system costs, and negative outcomes for all involved, including potential harm to

the individual experiencing the crisis or others. 

Comprehensive crisis systems can be challenging to conceive and fund as often there are multiple

systems that need to be coordinated, such as emergency response systems such as 911 lines;

first responders including police and EMT; emergency room and primary health care; court

system; multiple payers; social service providers; and behavioral health providers. 

Comprehensive crisis systems also have to be designed, funded and staffed to address and

manage a range of crisis situations, including various presenting conditions, ages, family

situations, and locations. While models of comprehensive crisis delivery systems have been

developed and are operating successfully, these comprehensive systems are the exception. More

commonly, law enforcement and emergency room personnel respond to public safety and health

situations without the benefit of the range of services and support needed to successfully prevent,

manage, and follow up on behavioral health crises. Inadequate crisis delivery systems can result

in harm to the individual in crisis, law enforcement, or others; unnecessary use of scarce and

costly emergency room and inpatient settings; and inappropriate use of jails and criminal justice

resources.

The program will seek to increase the engagement with and the functioning of individuals in

crisis, increased support for families and caregivers, decreased use of emergency room and

inpatient care, and increased understanding by the community of those who experience a 

behavioral health crisis.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $5,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $10.0 million, including $5.0 million in the Mental Health

appropriation and $5.0 million in the Substance Abuse Treatment appropriation, for a new braided

program line entitled Crisis Systems. This represents an increase of $10.0 million from the FY 

2015 Enacted Level. Funding supports the Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE),

a demonstration activity to help communities build, fund, and sustain crisis systems capable of

preventing and deescalating behavioral health crises as well as connecting individuals and families

with needed post-crisis services. In many incidences, responses to these situations by emergency

medical responders and other behavioral health care providers are under- coordinated and unsustained. These grants will help mitigate the demand for inpatient beds by

107 
those with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders by coordinating effective crisis

response with ongoing outpatient services and supports. As a braided activity, SAMHSA will

track separately any amounts spent or awarded under Crisis Systems through its distinct

appropriation and ensure that funds are used for purposes consistent with legislative direction 

and intent of that appropriation. 

108 
Outputs and Outcomes Tables

Program: Crisis Systems: Increasing Access Response Efforts (ICARE)

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure Year and Most Recent 

Result /Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

(TBD) The number of organizations that entered

into formal written inter/intra-organizational

agreements (e.g., MOUs/MOAs) to improve

mental-health related practices/activities that

are consistent with the goals of the grant

(Outcome)

FY 2017: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2017

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

(TBD) Percentage of clients receiving

services who report positive functioning at 6 

month follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2017: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2017

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

(TBD) The amount of pooled, blended, or

braided funding used for mental-health

practices/activities that are consistent with the

goals of the grant (Outcome)

FY 2017: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2017

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

(TBD) Number of individuals referred to mental

health or related services (Outcome)

FY 2017: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2017

Target: Set Baseline

109 
Program: Mental Health - Other Capacity Activities1

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1

Includes the following: Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion, Jail Diversion

and Trauma Recovery Program-Priority to Veterans, Minority AIDS Initiative Targeted Capacity Expansion (MAITCE): Integrated Behavioral Health/Primary Care Network Cooperative Agreements. 2

Target has been revised from previously reported. 3

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration, and Healthy Transitions are reported separately for FY 2016

target

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

1.2.05 Percentage of clients receiving

services who report positive functioning

at 6 month follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2013: 55.7 %

Target:

54.0 % 

(Target Exceeded)

55.7 % 55.7 % Maintain

1.2.82 Percentage of clients receiving

services who had a permanent place to live

in the community at 6 month follow-up

(Outcome)

FY 2013: 70.5 %

Target: 67.7 % 

(Target Exceeded)

70.5 % 70.5 % Maintain

1.2.83 Percentage of clients receiving

services who are currently employed at 6 

month follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2013: 22.2 %

Target:14.0 % 

(Target Exceeded)

22.2 % 22.2 % Maintain

1.2.88 Number of individuals screened for

mental health or related interventions

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 18,348

Target:

30,9872

(Target Not Met)

13,7753 29,813 +16,038

110 
Program: Mental Health - Science and Service Activities

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

1.4.06 Number of people trained by CMHS

Science and Service Programs (Output)

FY 2014: 8,109

Target: 5,568

(Target Exceeded)

16,271 16,271 Maintain

1.4.09 Increase the number of individuals

trained by SAMHSA's Science and Services

Program (Output)

FY 2014: 54,8831

Target: 110,000

(Target Not Met)

42,0632 40,9473 -1,116

1.4.14 Number of calls answered by the

Disaster Distress Hotline (Output)

FY 2014: 3,416

Target: 6,436

(Target Not Met)

3,228 3,228 Maintain

1.4.15 Number of text messages answered

by the Disaster Distress Hotline (Output)

FY 2014: 4,371

Target: 7,848

(Target Not Met)

4,131 4,131 Maintain

111 
SAMHSA/Mental Health

PRNS Mechanism Table by APT

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Programs of Regional & National Significance

Grants/Cooperative Agreements

Continuations

311 129,834 391 209,538 439 228,705

New/Competing 323 185,243 220 99,854 218 84,222

Subtotal 634 315,077 611 309,392 657 312,928

Contracts

Continuations 13 30,870 26 58,153 25 51,824

New/Competing 13 31,368 4 2,993 6 12,538

Subtotal 26 62,238 30 61,146 31 64,361

Total, Mental Health PRNS 1

660 377,315 641 370,538 688 377,289

1

The PRNS FY 2014 and FY 2015 totals include $12,000,000 and FY 2016 Request total includes

$38,000,000 funded by the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

*Totals may not add due to rounding.

112 
SAMHSA/Mental Health

PRNS Mechanism Table by PPA

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

CAPACITY:

Seclusion andRestraint

Grants

Continuations

andTrauma

$--- $--- $--- $--- --- $---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations 1 1,147 1 1,147 1 1,147

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 1,147 1 1,147 1 1,147

Total, SRT 1 1,147 1 1,147 1 1,147

YouthViolence Prevention

Grants

Continuations 8 20,079 8 20,083 8 20,087

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 8 20,079 8 20,083 8 20,087

Contracts

Continuations 2 2,561 3 3,016 3 3,012

New/Competing 1 459 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 3 3,020 3 3,016 3 3,012

Total, YVP 11 23,099 11 23,099 11 23,099

Project AWARE

Grants

Continuations --- --- 20 38,354 55 46,926

New/Competing 120 48,144 35 8,612 --- ---

Subtotal 120 48,144 55 46,965 55 46,926

Contracts

Continuations --- --- 2 7,150 2 5,899

New/Competing 2 6,721 1 750 1 2,039

Subtotal 2 6,721 3 7,900 3 7,939

Total, Project AWARE 122 54,865 58 54,865 58 54,865

Mental HealthFirst

Grants

Continuations

Aidfor Veterans’ Families

--- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- 15 3,749

Subtotal --- --- --- --- 15 3,749

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- 251

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- 251

Total, Mental HealthFirst Aidfor Veterans --- --- --- --- 15 4,000

113 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

Amount

National ChildTraumatic Stress Network

Grants

Continuations 78 41,349 78 42,708 --- ---

New/Competing --- 1,200 --- --- 81 42,694

Subtotal 78 42,549 78 42,708 81 42,694

Contracts

Continuations --- 2,705 --- 3,179 --- 3,193

New/Competing --- 633 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 3,338 --- 3,179 --- 3,193

Total, NCTSI 78 $45,887 78 $45,887 81 $45,887

ChildrenandFamily Programs

Grants

Continuations --- 212 11 4,375 11 4,383

New/Competing 11 4,399 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 11 4,611 11 4,375 11 4,383

Contracts

Continuations --- 360 2 2,083 2 2,075

New/Competing 2 1,488 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 2 1,847 2 2,083 2 2,075

Total, CFP 13 6,458 13 6,458 13 6,458

Healthy Transitions

Grants

Continuations --- --- 17 16,932 17 16,932

New/Competing 17 16,715 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 17 16,715 17 16,932 17 16,932

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- 3,019 --- 2,296

New/Competing --- 3,236 --- --- --- 723

Subtotal --- 3,236 --- 3,019 --- 3,019

Total, Healthy Transitions 17 19,951 17 19,951 17 19,951

ConsumerandFamily Network Grants

Grants

Continuations 56 3,781 39 2,708 12 1,140

New/Competing 9 450 12 1,540 33 3,152

Subtotal 65 4,231 51 4,248 45 4,292

Contracts

Continuations --- 627 --- 706 --- 311

New/Competing --- 97 --- --- 1 350

Subtotal --- 723 --- 706 1 662

Total, CFN 65 4,954 51 4,954 46 4,954

114 
Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's 

Budget

No. Amount

Project LAUNCH

Grants/Cooperative Agreements

Continuations 22 18,688 31 25,754 35 30,234

New/Competing 15 11,244 4 4,610 --- ---

Subtotal 37 29,932 35 30,364 35 30,234

Contracts

Continuations 1 4,347 1 4,191 1 4,321

New/Competing --- 276 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 4,623 1 4,191 1 4,321

Total, LAUNCH 38 $34,555 36 $34,555 36 $34,555

MH System TransformationandHealth Reform

Grants

Continuations

20 6,517 --- 2,637 --- 2,638

New/Competing --- 2,647 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 20 9,164 --- 2,637 --- 2,638

Contracts

Continuations 1 1,392 1 1,142 --- 238

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- 904

Subtotal 1 1,392 1 1,142 --- 1,141

Total, MH-STHR 21 10,556 1 3,779 --- 3,779

Primary andBehavioral Health Care Integration

Grants

Continuations 16 6,181 16 6,179 109 21,369

New/Competing 26 40,918 102 40,748 --- 3,000

Subtotal 42 47,099 118 46,927 109 24,369

Contracts

Continuations --- 2,778 --- 2,950 --- 1,635

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 2,778 --- 2,950 --- 1,635

Total, PBHCI 42 49,877 118 49,877 109 26,004

National Strategy forSuicide Prevention

Grants

Continuations --- --- 4 1,879 4 1,879

New/Competing 4 1,880 --- --- 4 1,870

Subtotal 4 1,880 4 1,879 8 3,749

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- 121 --- 251

New/Competing --- 120 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 120 --- 121 --- 251

Total, NSSP 4 2,000 4 2,000 8 4,000

115 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Suicide Lifeline

Grants

Continuations 13 4,389 12 690 1 5,288

New/Competing --- 1,448 1 5,288 12 690

Subtotal 13 5,838 13 5,979 13 5,978

Contracts

Continuations --- 481 --- 1,219 --- 1,220

New/Competing --- 880 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 1,360 --- 1,219 --- 1,220

Total, Suicide Lifeline 13 $7,198 13 $7,198 13 $7,198

GLS- YouthSuicide Prevention - States

Grants

Continuations 26 11,530 33 22,120 38 27,646

New/Competing 26 19,046 12 8,567 4 2,941

Subtotal 52 30,576 45 30,686 42 30,587

Contracts

Continuations --- 2,026 1 4,741 1 4,840

New/Competing 1 2,825 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 4,851 1 4,741 1 4,840

Total, GLS-States 53 35,427 46 35,427 43 35,427

GLS- YouthSuicide Prevention - Campus

Grants

Continuations 41 3,864 33 3,184 37 3,608

New/Competing 15 1,477 22 2,128 17 1,665

Subtotal 56 5,341 55 5,313 54 5,274

Contracts

Continuations --- 441 --- 1,175 --- 1,214

New/Competing --- 706 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 1,147 --- 1,175 --- 1,214

Total, GLS-Campus 56 6,488 55 6,488 54 6,488

GLS - Suicide PreventionResource Center

Grants

Continuations 1 4,471 --- --- 1 5,612

New/Competing --- 1,183 1 5,634 --- ---

Subtotal 1 5,654 1 5,634 1 5,612

Contracts

Continuations --- 334 --- --- --- 376

New/Competing --- --- --- 354 --- ---

Subtotal --- 334 --- 354 --- 376

Total, SPRC 1 5,988 1 5,988 1 5,988

116 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

AI/AN Suicide Prevention Initiative

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations 1 2,613 1 2,931 1 2,931

New/Competing --- 318 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 2,931 1 2,931 1 2,931

Total, AI/AN 1 $2,931 1 $2,931 1 $2,931

Homelessness PreventionPrograms

Grants

Continuations 24 6,603 10 4,308 27 20,608

New/Competing 9 15,902 26 20,000 2 2,612

Subtotal 33 22,505 36 24,308 29 23,221

Contracts

Continuations 2 4,169 3 6,388 2 4,508

New/Competing 1 4,023 --- --- --- 2,968

Subtotal 3 8,191 3 6,388 2 7,475

Total, HPP 36 30,696 39 30,696 31 30,696

Minority AIDS

Grants

Continuations --- --- 34 7,751 34 7,751

New/Competing 34 7,755 --- --- --- 6,218

Subtotal 34 7,755 34 7,751 34 13,969

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- 963 1 1,966

New/Competing --- 1,469 1 510 --- ---

Subtotal --- 1,469 1 1,473 1 1,966

Total, MAI 34 9,224 35 9,224 35 15,935

Grants for AdultTreatment, Screening, and

BriefResponse

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- 4 2,714

Subtotal --- --- --- --- 4 2,714

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- 182

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- 182

Total, GATSBR --- --- --- --- 4 2,896

117 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Crisis Systems

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- 3 4,346

Subtotal --- --- --- --- 3 4,346

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- 1 654

Subtotal --- --- --- --- 1 654

Total, Crisis Systems --- $--- --- $--- 4 $5,000

Criminal and Juvenile Justice Programs

Grants

Continuations 1 394 17 2,912 17 2,912

New/Competing 17 2,879 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 18 3,273 17 2,912 17 2,912

Contracts

Continuations 1 996 1 907 1 738

New/Competing --- --- 1 450 1 618

Subtotal 1 996 2 1,357 2 1,357

Total, CJJP 19 4,269 19 4,269 19 4,269

TribalBehavioral HealthGrants

Grants

Continuations --- --- 20 3,811 20 3,818

New/Competing 20 3,856 --- --- 43 8,571

Subtotal 20 3,856 20 3,811 63 12,390

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- 1,177 --- 1,182

New/Competing --- 1,132 --- --- --- 1,429

Subtotal --- 1,132 --- 1,177 --- 2,610

Total, TBHG

20 4,988 20 4,988 63 15,000

Subtotal, CAPACITY 636 $360,558 617 $353,781 663 $360,527

118 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

SCIENCEAND SERVICE:

Practice Improvement Training

Grants

Continuations --- --- 8 3,151 8 3,152

New/Competing 8 3,162 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 8 3,162 8 3,151 8 3,152

Contracts

Continuations 3 1,823 6 4,377 7 3,907

New/Competing 3 2,843 1 300 1 770

Subtotal 6 4,666 7 4,677 8 4,676

Total, PIT 14 7,828 15 7,828 16 7,828

Consumer and Consumer SupporterTechnical

Assistance Centers

Grants

Continuations

5 1,777 --- --- 5 1,797

New/Competing --- --- 5 1,805 --- ---

Subtotal 5 1,777 5 1,805 5 1,797

Contracts

Continuations --- 141 --- --- --- 121

New/Competing --- --- --- 113 --- ---

Subtotal --- 141 --- 113 --- 121

Total, CCSTAC 5 1,918 5 1,918 5 1,918

Primary andBehavioral Health Care Integration TA

Grants

Continuations

--- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations --- --- 1 1,991 1 1,996

New/Competing 1 1,991 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 1,991 1 1,991 1 1,996

Total, PBHCI TA 1 1,991 1 1,991 1 1,996

DisasterResponse

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- 924

New/Competing 1 936 --- 923 --- ---

Subtotal 1 936 --- 923 --- 924

Contracts

Continuations --- 268 1 1,030 1 1,029

New/Competing 1 749 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 1,017 1 1,030 1 1,029

Total, Disaster Response 2 $1,953 1 $1,953 1 $1,953

119 
Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Homelessness

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations 1 1,663 1 1,781 --- 646

New/Competing --- 633 --- 515 1 1,650

Subtotal 1 2,296 1 2,296 1 2,296

Total,Homelessness 1 2,296 1 2,296 1 2,296

HIV/AIDS Education

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations --- --- 1 771 1 771

New/Competing 1 771 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 771 1 771 1 771

Total, HIV/AIDS 1 771 1 771 1 771

Subtotal, SCIENCE AND SERVICE 24 16,757 24 16,757 25 16,762

TOTAL, MH PRNS1/ 660 $377,315 641 $370,538 691 $377,289

120 
Grant Awards Table

(Whole dollars)

FY2014

Operating Level 

FY2015

President's Budget

FY2016

Requested

Numberof Awards 634 611 642

Average Awards $496,966,655 $506,370,115 $481,587,458

Range of Awards $15,000 - $6,000,000 $15,000 - $6,000,000 $15,000 - $6,000,000

121 
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122 
Children’s Mental Health Services Program

(Dollars in thousands)

CMHI

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Budget Authority $117,026 $117,026 $117,026 $---

Authorizing Legislation ................................ Sections 561 to 565 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities................................................................. States, Tribes, Communities, Territories

Program Description and Accomplishments

Authorized in 1992, the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) supports the development of 

comprehensive, community-based services that use the system of care approach for the estimated

nine to 13 percent of children and youth with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and their

families. A system of care (SOC) is a strategic approach to the delivery of services and supports 

that incorporates family-driven, youth-guided, strength-based, and culturally and linguistically

competent care in order to meet the physical, intellectual, emotional, cultural, and social needs of

children and youth. The SOC helps prepare children and youth for successful transition to

adulthood and successful assumption of adult roles and responsibilities. Services are delivered in

the least restrictive environment with evidence-supported treatments and interventions. 

Individualized care management ensures that planned services and supports are delivered both 

appropriately and effectively.

In FY 2011, SAMHSA awarded SOC Expansion Planning grants to bring systems of care to

scale from community to statewide focus, where the grantee develops a comprehensive strategic

plan for improving and expanding services and supports broadly throughout a state or political

subdivision of a state, tribe, or territory. In FY 2012, SAMHSA funded SOC Expansion 

Implementation grants to assist states, tribes and larger geographic areas in implementing their

strategic plans to expand the SOC approach to improve outcomes for children and youth with

serious mental disorders and their families.

Due to the success of this approach, SAMHSA funding ensures that grantees will continue to

expand and sustain CMHI SOC values, principles, infrastructure and services throughout their

states, tribes, and territories. A central focus of these efforts is linking CMHI SOC with other 

child- and youth-serving systems (e.g. Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, and Education) and block 

grant activities, and coordinating funding streams to support the SOC approach.

CMHI has a current national evaluation, which is designed to provide information on (1) the 

mental health outcomes of children and youth, and their families; (2) the implementation, process, 

and sustainability of systems of care; and (3) critical and emerging issues in children’s’ and

youths’ mental health. The evaluation includes a system of care assessment that describes the

infrastructure and an assessment of outcomes derived from direct system of care services. A 

service experience study evaluates (1) change in service use patterns of children and their

123 
families; (2) whether there are differences between groups of children in the system of care

communities who receive an evidence-based treatment and those who do not in terms of client

satisfaction; and (3) whether children and families stay in services longer on average in

communities with higher average service and system of care ratings.

With the growth of the program, the evaluation has continued to gather data from children and

families involved in systems of care, particularly as the different cohorts of grantees have 

changed over the years. In addition to infrastructure and service evaluation, a sector and

comparison study is being conducted to evaluate differences in outcomes between system of care

eligible youth involved in education, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems and similar

youth not enrolled in system of care services. The evaluation continues to monitor the outcomes 

of children, youth and families through various data profile reports, and continuous quality 

improvement reports. The evaluation has also added activities to assess the associated costs and

cost savings of the system of care approach, and provides technical assistance to grantees to

promote family engagement in the evaluation as well as the ability to sustain the programs at the 

end of federal funding. 

National program evaluation data reported annually to Congress indicate that CMHI systems of 

care are successful, resulting in many favorable outcomes for children, youth, and their families,

including: 

• Sustained mental disorder improvements for participating children and youth in

behavioral health outcomes after as little as six months of program participation;

• Improvements in school attendance and achievement;

• Reductions in suicide-related behaviors;

• Decreases in the use of inpatient care and reduced costs due to fewer days in residential

settings; and

• Significant reductions in contacts with law enforcement.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $117,314,524

FY 2013 $111,430,194

FY 2014 $117,026,000

FY 2015 $117,026,000

FY 2016 $117,026,000

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided funding to support 59 continuation grants (28 six-year grants,

and 31 four-year grants), nine new one-year SOC Expansion Planning grants and 22 new fouryear SOC Expansion Implementation grants as well as support for evaluation and technical

assistance contracts. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will continue to support 54 continuation grants

(nine six-year grants and 45 four-year grants) and three contracts. Also, SAMHSA will award

approximately 30 four-year new System of Care Expansion and Sustainability Cooperative 

Agreements which will build upon progress made in developing comprehensive systems of care

124 
across the country by focusing on sustainable financing, cross-agency collaboration, the creation

of policy and infrastructure, and the development and implementation of services and supports 

that are consistent with the requirements authorized under Sections 561-565 of the Public Health

Service Act, as amended. In addition, SAMHSA will support one new technical assistance

contract and one new evaluation contract as well as support two full time employees (FTEs).

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $117.0 million at the program level. This is the same from the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA is requesting funding to support the continuation of Children’s 

Mental Health Initiative. The request will support 58 grants, four contract continuations, 27

new grants, and one new contract. In addition, the Budget Request continues to provide critical

technical assistance (TA) and training to grantee communities. With the continuation of this

funding level, SAMHSA is able to leverage the wealth of national, regional, and state systems

of care capacity that has evolved over the past 25 years by disseminating lessons learned

from the grantees along with flexible, developmentally phased TA model to support and

advance more streamlined, timely, and relevant technical assistance capacity.

125 
SAMHSA/Mental Health

Mechanism Table

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Children's Mental Health Services

Grants/Cooperative Agreements

Continuations 59 54,245 54 51,579 58 69,582

New/Competing 31 42,776 30 45,000 27 26,129

Subtotal 90 97,021 84 96,579 85 95,711

Contracts

Continuations 2 9,876 2 9,433 2 10,355

New/Competing --- 518 1 1,200 1 1,000

 Subtotal 2 10,395 3 10,633 3 11,355

TechnicalAssistance 5 9,611 2 9,814 2 9,960

Total, Children's Mental Health Services 97 117,026 89 117,026 90 117,026

* Totals may not add due to rounding.

126 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Children's Mental Health Services

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1, 2 Target has been revised from previously reported.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY2016

Target

3.2.16 Increase the number of children

with severe emotional disturbance that are

receiving services from the Children's

Mental Health Initiative (Output)

FY 2014: 6,280

Target:

4,8461

(Target Exceeded)

6,610 6,610 Maintain

3.2.25 Percentage of children receiving

services who report positive social support at

6 month follow-up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 86.6 %

Target:

87.6 % 

(Target Not Met)

87.6 % 87.6 % Maintain

3.2.26 Increase the percentage of children

receiving Systems of Care mental health

services who report positive functioning at

6 month follow- up (Outcome)

FY 2014: 62.5 %

Target:

64.2 % 

(Target Not Met)

62.7 % 62.7 % Maintain

3.2.27 Number of people in the mental

health and related workforce trained in

specific mental health-related

practices/activities as a result of the

program (Output)

FY 2014: 4,825

Target:

3,5172

(Target Exceeded)

5,101 5,101 Maintain

127 
Grant Awards Table

(Whole dollars)

FY2014

Operating Level

FY 2015

President's Budget

FY2016

Requested

Numberof Awards 90 84 85

Average Awards $1,078,008,289 $1,149,753,464 $1,126,007,294

Range of Awards $330,000 - $2,000,000 $330,000 - $2,000,000 $330,000 - $2,000,000

128 
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

(Dollars in thousands)

PATH

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Budget Authority $64,635 $64,635 $64,635 $---

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 521 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .....................................................................................................Formula Grant

Eligible Entities............................................................................................... States and Territories

Program Description and Accomplishments

In 1990, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act authorized the Projects

for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program. The PATH budget supports 

56 grants to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa,

the United States Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as centralized activities

such as technical assistance and evaluation. PATH funds community-based outreach, mental and

substance abuse treatment services, case management, other supportive services, and a limited

set of housing services in more than 500 communities. All recipients of PATH allocations

(except the territories) are required by the authorizing legislation to provide a matching

contribution of one dollar for every three dollars of federal money received. The PATH

formula calculates state allotments based on the population living in urbanized areas. This 

population data is updated after each census.

PATH is unique in that it is specifically authorized to address the needs of individuals with

serious mental illnesses (SMI) and/or SMI with co-occurring substance use disorder who are

experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. Behavioral health issues are common

among people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, as are chronic physical illnesses and other 

disabling conditions. Almost half of all people experiencing homelessness have mental health

problems and/or substance use disorders. In addition, many individuals who have SMI are at

high risk of becoming homeless due to their disabling conditions. The PATH program has been

highly successful in targeting assistance to individuals with SMI or experiencing a co-occurring

mental and substance use disorder who are homeless or are at risk for homelessness.

The ability of PATH providers to build trusting and supportive relationships that lead to

consumers making meaningful contributions to improve the delivery of services is a major

accomplishment. Nearly all PATH provider agencies involve consumers in providing services,

with consumers serving in such roles as peer specialist and committee member. PATH also

presents opportunities for providers working with individuals who are homeless to coordinate 

services. PATH is included in the SAMHSA consolidated evaluation contract, awarded in 2011, 

which seeks to identify commonalities across homeless programs that may be used to compare

effectiveness of the programs and of the various models of services delivery, including evidencebased practices, used within and across programs. 

129 
In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded 56 annual grants to states and territories and supported related

activities such as technical assistance and evaluation. This funding will continue in FY 2015. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $64,794,307

FY 2013 $61,404,952

FY 2014 $64,635,000

FY 2015 $64,635,000

FY 2016 $64,635,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $64.6 million at the program level. This is the same as the

FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding is requested to support the continuation of PATH and support 

the same number of homeless individuals contacted, approximately 192,000 individuals, through

the PATH program.

130 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Projects to Assist in the Transition from Homelessness

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year andYear Most Recent 

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

3.4.15 Increase the percentage of enrolled

homeless persons in the Projects for

Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

(PATH) program who receive community

mental health services (Outcome)

FY 2013: 66

Target: 50

(Target Exceeded)

66 Maintain

3.4.16 Number of homeless

contacted (Outcome)

persons FY 2013: 192,017

Target: 182,000

191,926 191,926 Maintain

(Target Exceeded)

3.4.17 Percentage of contacted homeless

persons with serious mental illness who

become enrolled in services(Outcome)

FY 2013: 61

Target: 55

58 58 Maintain

(Target Exceeded)

3.4.20 Increase the number of Projects for

Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

(PATH) providers trained on SSI/SSDI

Outreach, Access, Recovery (SOAR) to

ensure eligible homeless clients are receiving

benefits(Output)

FY 2014: 2,296

Target: 4,591

(Target Not Met)

2,296 2,296 Maintain

131 
Department of Health and HumanServices

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

FY2016 DISCRETIONARYSTATE/FORMULA GRANTS

Projects for Assistance inTransition from Homelessness (PATH)

CFDA # 93.150

State/Territory

FY2014

Actual

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/- 

FY2015

Alabama $613,000 $613,000 $609,000 -$4,000

Alaska 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Arizona 1,349,000 1,349,000 1,341,000 -8,000

Arkansas 304,000 304,000 302,000 -2,000

California 8,810,000 8,809,000 8,759,000 -50,000

Colorado 1,019,000 1,019,000 1,013,000 -6,000

Connecticut 799,000 799,000 794,000 -5,000

Delaware 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

DistrictofColumbia 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Florida 4,333,000 4,332,000 4,308,000 -24,000

Georgia 1,669,000 1,669,000 1,660,000 -9,000

Hawaii 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Idaho 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Illinois 2,704,000 2,704,000 2,689,000 -15,000

Indiana 1,011,000 1,011,000 1,005,000 -6,000

Iowa 334,000 334,000 333,000 -1,000

Kansas 377,000 377,000 375,000 -2,000

Kentucky 469,000 469,000 466,000 -3,000

Louisiana 733,000 733,000 729,000 -4,000

Maine 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Maryland 1,271,000 1,271,000 1,264,000 -7,000

Massachusetts 1,558,000 1,558,000 1,549,000 -9,000

Michigan 1,729,000 1,729,000 1,719,000 -10,000

Minnesota 811,000 811,000 806,000 -5,000

Mississippi 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Missouri 893,000 893,000 888,000 -5,000

Montana 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Nebraska 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Nevada 616,000 616,000 612,000 -4,000

New Hampshire 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

132 
Department of Health and HumanServices

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

FY2016 DISCRETIONARYSTATE/FORMULA GRANTS

Projects for Assistance inTransition from Homelessness (PATH)

CFDA # 93.150

State/Territory

FY2014

Actual

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/- 

FY2015

NewJersey $2,137,000 $2,137,000 $2,125,000 -$12,000

New Mexico 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

New York 4,222,000 4,221,000 4,197,000 -24,000

NorthCarolina 1,379,000 1,379,000 1,371,000 -8,000

NorthDakota 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Ohio 1,986,000 1,986,000 1,974,000 -12,000

Oklahoma 453,000 453,000 450,000 -3,000

Oregon 631,000 631,000 627,000 -4,000

Pennsylvania 2,366,000 2,366,000 2,352,000 -14,000

Rhode Island 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

SouthCarolina 680,000 680,000 676,000 -4,000

SouthDakota 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Tennessee 909,000 909,000 904,000 -5,000

Texas 4,994,000 4,993,000 4,965,000 -28,000

Utah 591,000 591,000 588,000 -3,000

Vermont 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Virginia 1,472,000 1,471,000 1,463,000 -8,000

Washington 1,329,000 1,329,000 1,321,000 -8,000

West Virginia 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

Wisconsin 836,000 836,000 832,000 -4,000

Wyoming 300,000 300,000 300,000 0

AmericanSamoa 50,000 50,000 50,000 0

Guam 50,000 50,000 50,000 0

NorthernMarianas 50,000 50,000 50,000 0

Puerto Rico 891,000 891,000 886,000 -5,000

VirginIslands 50,000 50,000 50,000 0

133 
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134 
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI)

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2016 FY2016

FY2014 FY2015 President's +/- PAIMI Final Enacted Budget FY2015

Budget Authority $36,146 $36,146 $36,146 $---

Authorizing Legislation ....................................................... The PAIMI Act 42 USC 10801 et seq.

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ................................................................................................... Formula Grants

Eligible Entities............................................................................................... States and Territories

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act of 1986 [42 USC

10801 et seq., as amended in 2000 by the Children’s Health Act of 2000 [42 USC 290 ii- ii-2]

extended the protections of the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Assistance Act of 1975 [as

amended in 2000, 42 USC 15001 et seq.] to individuals with significant mental illness (adults)

and significant emotional impairments (children/youth) at risk for abuse, neglect, and rights

violations while residing in public and private care and treatment facilities. The PAIMI Act

authorized the same governor-designated state protection and advocacy (P&A) systems

established under the DD Act of 1975 to receive PAIMI Program formula grant awards from

SAMHSA. The PAIMI Program awards support legal-based advocacy services that are provided 

by the 57 governor-designated P&A systems located in each state, territory, and the District of

Columbia (Mayor). Each system is mandated to: 1) ensure that the rights of individuals with

mental illness who are at risk for abuse, neglect, and rights violations while residing in public or 

private care or treatment facilities are protected; 2) protect and advocate for the rights of these

individuals through activities that ensure the enforcement of the Constitution and federal and

state statutes; and 3) investigate incidents of abuse and/or neglect of individuals with mental

illness.

The PAIMI Programs are highly effective in assuring that the most vulnerable individuals with

mental illness, especially those residing in public and private residential care and treatment

facilities, are free from abuse, including inappropriate restraint and seclusion, neglect and rights

violations, and receive the appropriate mental health treatment and discharge planning services

they will need to facilitate their recovery and subsequent placement into the least restrictive,

appropriate, community-based setting. In FY 2013, the most recent data available, the PAIMI

program met its target by successfully resolving complaints of alleged abuse, neglect, and rights

violations 88 percent of the time.

In FY 2013, the 57 state PAIMI Programs:

• Served 15,192 PAIMI-eligible individuals/clients: 3,294 children and youth (ages

0 to 18) and 11,048 adults (ages 19 to 64), and 850 older adults (age 65 and older). These

individuals filed 18,101 complaints alleging abuse, neglect, and/or rights violations.

135 
• Of the closed 12,836 complaints: 2,493 of the allegations were not substantiated, lacked

legal merit, or were withdrawn by the client; 10,343 were substantiated, including 2,086

for abuse, 2,097 for neglect, and 6,160 for rights violation allegations.

• Resolved 87 percent of abuse, 91 percent of neglect allegations, and 87 percent of rights

violations allegations, and attained outcomes that resulted in positive change for the

clients served. These positive outcomes included receipt of appropriate medical and

mental health treatment; safer, cleaner facility environment; discharge into an appropriate

community-based setting; and discharge from a nursing facility.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA continued to fund 57 annual grants to states and territories as well as

continued technical assistance activities and support for grantees. This funding will continue in

FY 2015. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $36,238,380

FY 2013 $34,342,894

FY 2014 $36,146,000

FY 2015 $36,146,000

FY 2016 $36,146,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $36.1 million. This is the same as the FY 2015 Enacted Level.

Funding is requested to support the continuation of the PAIMI grants in order to serve the same

number of individuals, approximately 15,925, receiving support to address complaints with the 

mental health care system and 443,000 individuals trained, educated, or reached through the 

program.

136 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1

Target was reduced to reflect most recent actual given previous two years of performance results were off nearly 30

percent and is not related to 2012 budget levels. 2 Preliminary result. Methodology under review. 3

Target increase is under consideration pending review of reporting methodology/confirmation of FY 2013 result.

Measure Year and Most Recent 

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

3.4.12 Number of people served by the

PAIMI program (Output)

FY 2013: 15,192

Target: 16,4991

(Target Not Met)

15,925 15,192 -733

3.4.19 Number attending public

education/constituency training and public

awareness activities(Output)

FY 2013:

443,2822

Target: 92,953 

(Target Exceeded) 

139,4273 139,427 Maintain

3.4.21 Increase percentage of complaints of

alleged abuse, neglect, and rights violations

substantiated and not withdrawn by the client 

that resulted in positive change through the

restoration of client rights, expansion or 

maintenance of personal decision- making, e 

limination of other barriers to personal 

decision-making, as a result of Protection and 

Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness 

(PAIMI) involvement (Outcome) 

FY 2013: 88.3 %

Target:

87.0 % 

(Target Exceeded)

87.0 % 88.0 % +1

137 
Department of Health and Human Services 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

FY2016 DISCRETIONARYSTATE/FORMULA GRANTS

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI)

CFDA # 93.138

State/Territory

FY2014

Actual

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/- 

FY2015

Alabama $452,480 $456,090 $456,125 $35

Alaska 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Arizona 609,040 616,908 620,705 +3,797

Arkansas 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

California 3,169,574 3,156,787 3,133,003 -23,784

Colorado 428,381 433,624 437,252 +3,628

Connecticut 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Delaware 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

District ofColumbia 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Florida 1,680,238 1,704,717 1,724,103 +19,386

Georgia 909,612 917,657 924,459 +6,802

Hawaii 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Idaho 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Illinois 1,081,319 1,075,584 1,068,255 -7,329

Indiana 606,534 599,111 601,407 +2,296

Iowa 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Kansas 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Kentucky 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Louisiana 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Maine 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Maryland 457,637 456,617 461,680 +5,063

Massachusetts 505,220 506,963 507,297 +334

Michigan 911,471 903,618 900,401 -3,217

Minnesota 445,048 444,348 447,128 +2,780

Mississippi 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Missouri 541,644 544,367 538,532 -5,835

Montana 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Nebraska 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Nevada 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

New Hampshire 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

138 
Department of Health andHumanServices

Substance Abuse andMental Health Services Administration

FY2016 DISCRETIONARYSTATE/FORMULAGRANTS

Protection andAdvocacy for Individuals withMental Illness (PAIMI)

CFDA # 93.138

State/Territory

FY2014

Actual

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

NewJersey $682,281 $681,414 $684,302 $2,888

New Mexico 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

New York 1,522,198 1,525,779 1,522,284 -3,495

NorthCarolina 894,253 896,314 900,601 +4,287

NorthDakota 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Ohio 1,042,233 1,031,064 1,025,955 -5,109

Oklahoma 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Oregon 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Pennsylvania 1,088,023 1,074,746 1,067,820 -6,926

Rhode Island 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

SouthCarolina 451,380 452,783 455,001 +2,218

SouthDakota 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Tennessee 588,392 586,600 587,119 +519

Texas 2,249,157 2,255,157 2,267,946 +12,789

Utah 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Vermont 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Virginia 663,461 666,587 672,507 +5,920

Washington 572,901 574,891 573,827 -1,064

West Virginia 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

Wisconsin 503,977 498,588 495,934 -2,654

Wyoming 428,000 428,000 428,000 0

AmericanSamoa 229,300 229,300 229,300 0

Guam 229,300 229,300 229,300 0

NorthernMarianas 229,300 229,300 229,300 0

Puerto Rico 566,333 551,889 538,532 -13,357

Virgin Islands 229,300 229,300 229,300 0

AmericanIndianConsortium 229,300 229,300 229,300 0

139 
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140 
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG)

(Dollars in thousands)

ProgramActivity

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

CommunityMentalHealthServicesBlock Grant $482,571 $482,571 $482,571 $---

PHSEvaluationFunds(non-add) $21,039 $21,039 $21,039 $---

Authorizing Legislation ...........................................Section 1911 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .....................................................................................................Formula Grant

Eligible Entities............................................................................................... States and Territories

Program Description and Accomplishments

Since 1992, the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) has distributed funds 

to 59 eligible states and territories and freely associated states through a formula based upon 

specified economic and demographic factors. The MHBG distributes funds to eligible states and

territories for a variety of services and for planning, administration, and educational activities.

These services and activities must support state-developed plans for comprehensive communitybased mental health services for children with serious emotional disturbances and adults with

serious mental illness. Services funded by the MHBG include: outpatient mental health treatment

for serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders; supported employment

and supported housing; rehabilitation services, crisis stabilization and case management; peer

specialist and consumer-directed services; wrap around services for children and families; jail

diversion programs; and services for vulnerable populations (e.g., persons who are homeless,

those in rural and frontier areas, military families, and veterans). Through the administration

of the MHBG, SAMHSA supports and encourages states in the implementation of practices

demonstrated and proven effective in the Mental Health PRNS portfolio.

The MHBG continues to represent a significant “safety net” source of funding for mental health

services for some of the most vulnerable populations across the country. Together, SAMHSA’s

block grants support the provision of services and related supports to approximately eight million

individuals with mental and substance use conditions. With an estimated 9.6 million (4.1 

percent) adults having a severe mental illness in the past year in 2012,27 43.7 million adults

having any mental illness in the past year in 2012,28 and another 24.6 million (9.4 percent) adults

with illicit drug abuse in the past month in 2013,29 demand clearly outpaces the public behavioral 

health system’s established capacity.

States rely on the MHBG for delivery of critical services and for an array of non-clinical

coordination and support services that strengthen their service systems. For example, planning,

coordination, needs assessment, quality assurance, program development, training, and

27 http://media.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2k12MH_FindingsandDetTables/2K12MHF/NSDUHmhfr2012.htm

28 http://media.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2013SummNatFindDetTables/NationalFindings/NSDUHresults2013.htm

29 http://media.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2013SummNatFindDetTables/NationalFindings/NSDUHresults2013.htm

141 
evaluation are all important activities that are necessary to develop and maintain an effective

public health system for mental health services. The MHBG statute provides a five percent setaside to allow SAMHSA to assist the states and territories in the development of their mental

health systems through the support of technical assistance, data collection, and evaluation

activities.

SAMHSA encourages states to use block grant resources to support and not supplant services

that will be covered through commercial and public insurer plans. In FY 2011, SAMHSA

redesigned the FY 2012-2013 MHBG and SABG applications to better align with changes in

federal/state environments, including the impacts of the Affordable Care Act, the Mental Health

Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), and the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA). The

new design offered states the opportunity to complete a combined application for mental health

and substance abuse services, submit a biennial versus an annual plan,30,31 and provide 

information regarding their efforts to respond to various changes in federal and state law.

Submitting the application/plan biennially, reduces the burden on states to prepare and submit an

application/plan every year.

The FY 2014-2015 Block Grant application built upon the FY 2012-2013 application and the

FY 2016-2017 Block Grant application is currently available for public comment. Under the 

application, SAMHSA Block Grant funds are directed toward four purposes: 

1) To fund priority treatment and support services for individuals without insurance or for

whom coverage is terminated for short periods of time;

2) To fund those priority treatment and support services not covered by Medicaid,

Medicare, or private insurance for low-income individuals and that demonstrate success

in improving outcomes and/or supporting recovery;

3) For the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant: to fund primary

prevention-universal, selective, and indicated prevention activities and services for

persons not identified as needing treatment; and

4) To collect performance and outcome data to determine the ongoing effectiveness of

behavioral health promotion, treatment, and recovery support services and to plan the

implementation of new services on a nationwide basis.

SAMHSA is undertaking a series of agency-wide efforts designed to develop a set of common

core performance, quality, and cost measures to demonstrate the impact of SAMHSA’s

programs. Ultimately, SAMHSA and its state partners will collaborate to develop a streamlined

behavioral health data system that complements other existing systems (e.g., Medicaid

administrative and billing data systems, and state mental health and substance abuse data

systems), ensures consistency in the use of measures, and provides a more complete perspective

of the delivery of mental health and substance abuse treatment services.

30 State Plan for Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Certain Individuals (Sec. 1912 of Title

XIX, Part B, Subpart I of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 USC § 300x-2)).

31 State Plan (Sec.1932(b) of Title XIX, Part B, Subpart II of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 USC § 300x32(b)).

142 
Most block grant recipients are currently reporting on National Outcome Measures (NOMS) for

public mental health services within their state. State level outcome data for mental health are

currently reported by State Mental Health Authorities. The following outcomes for all people 

served by the publicly funded mental health system during 2013 show that: 

• For the 57 states and territories that reported data in the Employment Domain, 17 percent of

the mental health consumers were in competitive employment;

• For the 57 states and territories that reported data in the Housing Domain, 83 percent of the

mental health consumers were living in private residences;

• For the 58 states and territories that reported data in the Access/Capacity Domain, state

mental health agencies provided mental health services for 22.09 people per 1,000

population;

• For the 48 states and territories that reported data in the Retention Domain, only 8.6 percent

of the patients returned to a state psychiatric hospital within 30 days of state hospital discharge;

and

• For the 53 states and territories that reported data in the Perception of Care Domain,

70.6 percent of adult mental health consumers improved functioning as a direct result of the

mental health services they received.

An independent evaluation of the MHBG demonstrated that funds allow states to explore new

innovations and strategies, target emerging needs with special programs; pay for recoveryfocused and consumer-centered services not covered by commercial insurance, Medicaid, or 

Medicare; and create the administrative, organizational, or service delivery linkages that foster a 

community-based, transformed system of mental health services. The study of the program has

been completed and the final report is available on the SAMHSA website

(http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA10-4610/SMA10-4610.pdf).

Set-aside for Evidence-based Programs That Address Needs of Individuals With Early

Serious Mental Illness

Starting in FY 2014, states were required to set-aside five percent of their MHBG funds to

support evidence-based programs that address the needs of individuals with early serious mental

illness, including psychotic disorders. 

The majority of individuals with serious mental illness experience their first symptoms during 

adolescence or early adulthood, and there are often long delays between the initial onset of 

symptoms and receiving treatment. The consequences of delayed treatment can include loss of 

family and social supports, reduced educational achievement, disruption of employment,

substance abuse, increased hospitalizations, and reduced prospects for long-term recovery.

The five percent set-aside of $24.2 million, allocated to states consistent with the block grant

formula, will support implementation of promising models that seek to address treatment of 

serious mental illness at an early stage through reducing symptoms and relapse rates, and

preventing deterioration of cognitive function in individuals suffering from psychotic illness.

SAMHSA has collaborated closely with the NIH’s National Institute for Mental Health in

143 
providing guidance and technical assistance to states regarding effective programs funded by this

set-aside. This set-aside funding will be continued in FY 2015. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2007 $428,256,000

FY 2008 $420,774,000

FY 2009 $420,774,000

FY 2010 $420,774,000

FY 2011 $419,974,530

FY 2012 $459,756,254

FY 2013 $436,808,709

FY 2014 $482,571,000

FY 2015 $482,571,000

FY 2016 $482,571,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $482.6 million at the program level with $461.5 million from

Budget Authority and $21.0 million from PHS Evaluation Funds. This request is the same as the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level. The Budget Request will support the continuation of Community 

Mental Health Services Block Grant.

144 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Mental Health Block Grant

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

2.3.11 Number of evidence based practices

(EBPs) implemented (Output)

FY 2013: 5.0 per state

Target:

4.2 per state

(Target Exceeded)

4.5 per

state

4.5 per

state

Maintain

2.3.14 Number of people served by the

public mental health system (Output)

FY 2013: 7,242,264

Target:

6,340,320

(Target Exceeded)

7,620,000 7,620,000 Maintain

2.3.15 Rate of consumers (adults)

reporting positively about outcomes

(Outcome)

FY 2013: 70.6%

Target:

72%

(Target Not Met)

71.8% 71.8% Maintain

2.3.16 Rate of family members

(children/adolescents)reporting

positively about outcomes (Outcome)

FY 2013: 67.6%

Target:

67%

(Target Exceeded)

66.1% 66.1% Maintain

2.3.81 Percentage ofservice population

receiving any evidence based practice

(Outcome)

FY 2013: 6.6 %

Target:

7.2 % 

(Target Not Met but

Improved)

6.2 % 6.2 % Maintain

145 
Department of Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

FY 2016 DISCRETIONARY STATE/FORMULA GRANTS

Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Program

CFDA #93.958

FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2016

State/Territory

Actual Enacted President's

Budget FY

+/-

2015

Alabama $6,713,670 $6,646,898 $6,660,799 $13,901

Alaska 775,287 793,287 880,918 +87,631

Arizona 10,564,627 10,737,941 10,546,669 -191,272

Arkansas 4,272,655 4,227,658 4,062,834 -164,824

California 62,185,567 63,093,869 62,683,086 -410,783

Colorado 6,829,619 6,900,325 7,686,147 +785,822

Connecticut 4,812,384 4,785,704 4,745,284 -40,420

Delaware 1,052,300 1,042,835 1,284,277 +241,442

District of Columbia 893,917 927,814 957,826 +30,012

Florida 31,110,919 31,701,900 30,619,749 -1,082,151

Georgia 14,264,923 14,325,637 15,566,399 +1,240,762

Hawaii 2,352,005 2,368,691 2,389,259 +20,568

Idaho 2,554,817 2,561,105 2,155,270 -405,835

Illinois 17,322,214 17,158,047 17,976,023 +817,976

Indiana 8,547,076 8,381,873 8,255,030 -126,843

Iowa 3,735,295 3,686,277 3,685,812 -465

Kansas 3,492,553 3,454,659 3,417,686 -36,973

Kentucky 6,469,100 6,357,925 6,006,311 -351,614

Louisiana 5,592,499 5,513,361 5,602,440 +89,079

Maine 1,831,044 1,802,317 1,820,701 +18,384

Maryland 9,076,153 9,032,488 7,730,745 -1,301,743

Massachusetts 9,997,620 9,971,207 9,507,918 -463,289

Michigan 14,638,954 14,515,920 14,513,995 -1,925

Minnesota 7,127,318 7,089,713 7,124,298 +34,585

Mississippi 4,215,406 4,187,582 4,235,346 +47,764

Missouri 7,852,761 7,793,723 7,757,861 -35,862

Montana 1,364,051 1,359,717 1,356,995 -2,722

Nebraska 2,152,297 2,103,021 2,106,915 +3,894

Nevada 4,547,235 4,651,021 4,598,833 -52,188

New Hampshire 1,863,286 1,841,227 1,638,448 -202,779

146 
Department of Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

FY 2016 DISCRETIONARY STATE/FORMULA GRANTS

Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Program

CFDA #93.958

FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2016

State/Territory

Actual Enacted President's

Budget FY

+/-

2015

New Jersey $12,962,425 $12,975,405 $12,985,469 $10,064

New Mexico 2,809,998 2,791,090 2,714,303 -76,787

New York 28,564,852 28,236,385 29,379,836 +1,143,451

North Carolina 12,869,812 12,834,233 12,964,660 +130,427

North Dakota 826,569 816,996 796,971 -20,025

Ohio 15,274,428 15,076,166 14,762,661 -313,505

Oklahoma 4,974,309 4,978,056 4,923,689 -54,367

Oregon 5,988,749 5,983,509 6,095,036 +111,527

Pennsylvania 16,460,620 16,252,021 16,307,047 +55,026

Rhode Island 1,769,137 1,749,226 1,687,607 -61,619

South Carolina 6,671,692 6,656,055 6,737,414 +81,359

South Dakota 953,807 947,022 952,352 +5,330

Tennessee 8,833,476 8,802,254 9,356,048 +553,794

Texas 36,596,738 36,712,474 37,081,756 +369,282

Utah 3,478,559 3,490,243 3,496,453 +6,210

Vermont 839,604 821,044 811,934 -9,110

Virginia 11,406,542 11,372,201 10,491,012 -881,189

Washington 10,429,045 10,443,964 10,516,352 +72,388

West Virginia 2,715,750 2,646,507 2,633,146 -13,361

Wisconsin 7,379,783 7,274,287 7,647,820 +373,533

Wyoming 511,527 535,764 492,178 -43,586

American Samoa 88,385 88,293 88,869 +576

Guam 255,557 256,962 260,468 +3,506

Marshall Islands 107,574 110,039 113,275 +3,236

Micronesia 171,070 171,112 172,322 +1,210

Northern Marianas 83,532 82,585 83,105 +520

Palau 50,000 50,000 50,000 ---

Puerto Rico 5,935,283 5,930,860 5,920,858 -10,002

Virgin Islands 169,385 169,164 170,102 +938

147 
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148 
SAMHSA

Substance Abuse Prevention

Table of Contents

1. Substance Abuse Prevention Appropriation ................................................................... 151

2. Programs of Regional & National Significance (PRNS) ................................................ 152

a) Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)..................................................................... 153

b) Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program.................................................................... 159

c) Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) ............................................................................... 160

d) Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act).............................. 165

e) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) .............................................................. 168

f) Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT).............................. 169

g) Science and Service Program Coordination .............................................................. 172

h) Tribal Behavioral Health Grants............................................................................... 173

i) Grants to Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose Related Deaths.................... 176

3. PRNS Mechanism Table by APT ................................................................................... 178

4. PRNS Mechanism Table by PPA.................................................................................... 179

5. Grant Awards Table ........................................................................................................ 182

149 
Page intentionally left blank

150 
Substance Abuse Prevention Appropriation

(Dollars in thousands)

ProgramActivities

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Programs of Regional and National Significance $175,129 $175,148 $210,918 +$35,770

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 16,468 +16,468

Total, Substance Abuse Prevention 1 $175,129 $175,148 $210,918 +$35,770

1 The Minority Fellowship Programbudgetsfromthe Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment appropriations have

beencomparablyadjustedinthistabletobeinlinewiththeFY2016RequestandarereflectedintheHealthSurveillanceandProgram

Support Appropriation under the Agency-Wide Initiatives Workforce program.

The Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation request is $210.9 million, an increase of 

$35.8 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. The request includes $194.5 million in Budget 

Authority (which is a $19.3 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level) and $16.5 million

in PHS Evaluations Funds (which is a $16.5 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level).

151 
Programs of Regional & National Significance (PRNS)

Substance Abuse Prevention Appropriation

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2016 FY2016

Programs ofRegional& NationalSignificance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

President's

Budget

+/-

FY2015

CAPACITY

Strategic Prevention Framework $109,484 $109,484 $118,254 +$8,770

StrategicPreventionFramework RxPHSEvaluationFunds(non- --- --- 10,000 +10,000

GrantstoPreventPrescriptionDrug/OpioidOverdoseRelatedDeaths --- --- 12,000 +12,000

Federal Drug-Free Workplace 4,894 4,894 4,894 ---

Minority AIDS 41,205 41,205 41,205 ---

SoberTruthonPreventingUnderageDrinking(STOPAct) 6,983 7,000 7,000 ---

Tribal Behavioral Health Grants --- --- 15,000 +15,000

Subtotal,Capacity 162,566 162,583 198,353 +35,770

SCIENCEANDSERVICE

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder 998 1,000 1,000 ---

CenterfortheApplicationofPreventionTechnologies (CAPT) 7,493 7,493 7,493 ---

PHSEvaluationsFunds(non-add) --- --- 6,468 +6,468

ScienceandServiceProgramCoordination 4,072 4,072 4,072 ---

Subtotal,Science andService 12,563 12,565 12,565 ---

TOTAL, PRNS 1 $175,129 $175,148 $210,918 +$35,770

1 The Minority FellowshipProgrambudget isreflected within the HealthSurveillance and ProgramSupport appropriation under the Agency-wide

Initiatives Workforce program and is consistent with the FY2015 and FY2016 Budget Requests.

Authorizing Legislation ................................................. Sections 516, 519B, 519D of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Cooperative Agreements/Contracts

Eligible Entities...................... States, Tribes, Communities, and Private Non-Profit Organizations

152 
Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs ofRegional& NationalSignificance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

StrategicPreventionFramework $109,484 $109,484 $118,254 +$8,770

StrategicPreventionFramework Rx(non-add) --- --- 10,000 +10,000

Authorizing Legislation ................................................. Sections 516, 519B, 519D of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Cooperative Agreements/Contracts

Eligible Entities.................................................................................. States, Tribes, and Territories

Program Description and Accomplishments

Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)

The Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) program is an

infrastructure and service delivery grant program. The program supports activities to help grantees

build a solid foundation for delivering and sustaining effective substance abuse prevention 

services and reducing substance abuse problems. Following the SPF five-step process, SPF-SIG

grantees develop comprehensive plans for prevention infrastructure and systems at the state and

tribal levels. Ultimately, SPF-SIG States/Tribes assist and support selected sub-recipient

communities to implement effective programs, policies and practices to reduce substance abuse 

and its related problems. The SPF-SIG program provides the foundation for success of the SPF - 

Partnerships for Success (PFS) Grant Program.

The SPF-Partnerships for Success (PFS) program was initiated in FY 2009 with the goals of 

reducing substance abuse-related problems; preventing the onset and reducing the progression of

substance use disorders; strengthening prevention capacity and infrastructure at the state and

community levels in support of prevention; and leveraging, redirecting, and realigning statewide

funding streams for substance abuse prevention. Beginning in FY 2012, the PFS program has

concentrated on addressing two of the nation’s top substance abuse prevention priorities:

underage drinking among youth and young adults ages 12 to 20 and prescription drug misuse and

abuse among individuals ages 12 to 25. Through the PFS program, SAMHSA will continue to

address the nation’s top emerging substance abuse priorities, such as prescription drugs, other 

opioids including heroin, underage drinking, marijuana, and intoxicative inhalants.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded a new cohort of 21 PFS grants and 16 continuation PFS grants.

Similar to the previous cohorts, these grantees will primarily address underage drinking among

youth and young adults ages 12 to 20 and prescription drug misuse and abuse among individuals 

ages 12 to 25 during the project periods from FY 2014 to FY 2018. Eligible applicants in

FY 2014, including tribal applicants, were also encouraged to address marijuana and heroin use 

as emergent priority issues.

153 
In FY 2015, SAMHSA will award up to 38 new PFS grants and 32 continuation PFS grants.

Grantees will address the overarching national issues of underage drinking among youth and

young adults aged 12 to 20 and prescription drug misuse among youth and young adults 12 to 25.

SAMHSA also encourages applicants for the FY 2015 PFS cohort (project periods FY 2015 to

FY 2019) to address emergent issues related to marijuana and heroin use.

Data show that states/communities receiving PFS funding have made improvements on targeted

National Outcome Measures indicators. The 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

(NSDUH) report shows that underage drinking and underage binge alcohol use are declining.

The rate of past month alcohol use among 12 to 20 year olds decreased from 28.8 percent in

2002 to 22.7 percent in 2013. The binge drinking rate declined from 19.3 to 14.2 percent, and

the rate of heavy drinking declined from 6.2 to 3.7 percent.

Although the number of persons aged 12 or older who used psychotherapeutics non-medically

for the first time within the past year has decreased by over 400,000 persons, the overall rate of 

nonmedical use of psychotherapeutics, including nonmedical use of any prescription drug pain

relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, or sedatives, has remained constant. The percent of

respondents reporting past month nonmedical use was 2.6 percent in 2012 and 2.5 percent in

2013.32 Prescription drug and opioid misuse and abuse continues to be a concern, as overdose

deaths increase. There is a need for targeted strategies geared toward education programs for

families about the dangers of prescription drug and opioid interactions, educating consumers and

prescribers about the dangers of high-risk prescribing, ensuring proper training of first

responders, and implementing drug take back programs.

Trends in substance use often coincide with trends in perceived risk. Increases in perceived risk

typically precede or occur simultaneously with decreases in use, and vice versa. For example,

perceived risk in the use of marijuana continues to decrease as states lessen penalties for marijuana

possession and change policies related to marijuana use. The percentage of youth aged 12 to 17 

who indicated great risk in smoking marijuana once a month decreased from

34.4 percent in 2007 to 24.2 percent in 2013. The rate of youth who perceived great risk in

smoking marijuana once or twice a week also decreased from 54.6 percent in 2007 to

39.5 percent in 2013. There have been consistent decreasing trends in the perceived risk of 

marijuana use over the past five years. The prevalence of past month marijuana use among

youths was 6.7 percent in 2007 and 7.1 percent in 2013.33

A cross-site evaluation of PFS began in FY 2014 for those grantees funded since 2012. The

evaluation is addressing the following: 1) Was the implementation of PFS programs associated

with a reduction in underage drinking and/or prescription drug misuse and abuse? 2) Did

variability in the total level of funding from all sources relate to outcomes? Did variability in the 

total level of PFS funding relate to outcomes, above and beyond other funding available to

communities? 3) What intervention type, combinations of interventions, and dosages of 

32 http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHresultsPDFWHTML2013/Web/

NSDUHresults2013.htm#fig5.6

33 http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHresultsPDFWHTML2013/Web/

NSDUHresults2013.htm#6.1

154 
interventions were related to outcomes at the grantee level? What intervention type,

combinations of interventions, and dosages of interventions were related to outcomes at the 

community level? 4) Were some types and combinations of interventions within communities

more cost-effective than others? 5) How does variability in factors (strategy selection and

implementation, infrastructure, geography, demography, sub-recipient selection, Training/TA,

barriers to implementation) relate to outcomes across funded communities? Preliminary annual

outcome findings should be available in FY 2015. 

Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF Rx)

Due to alarming trends related to prescription drug misuse and overdoses involving opioids, 

SAMHSA is prioritizing efforts to address prescription drug misuse. Drug overdose death rates

have increased five-fold since 1980.34 By 2009, drug overdose deaths outnumbered deaths due 

to motor vehicle crashes for the first time. In the U.S., prescription drugs, especially opioid 

analgesics, have been increasingly involved in drug overdose deaths.35 Opioid analgesics were

involved in 30 percent of drug overdose deaths where a drug was specified in 1999, compared to

nearly 60 percent in 2010. Opioid-related overdose deaths now outnumber overdose deaths

involving all illicit drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, combined.36

According to the 2013 NSDUH survey, 2.5 percent (6.5 million) of the U.S. population aged 12 

or older used prescription drugs non-medically in the past month in 2013, including (1.7 percent)

users of pain relievers, (0.6 percent) users of tranquilizers, (0.5 percent) users of stimulants, and

(0.1 percent) users of sedatives. Rates of nonmedical use of prescription drugs in the past month 

are highest among 18 to 25 year olds (4.8 percent). According to the Treatment Episode Data

Set (TEDS), in 2012, admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities were reported by

substance as 16.0 percent pain relievers (non-heroin opioids/synthetics), 6.0 percent

benzodiazepines or other tranquilizers, 12.0 percent stimulants (methamphetamine, other 

amphetamines, or other stimulants) and 0.7 percent for barbiturates or other sedatives/hypnotics. 

Funding for SAMHSA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in FY 2015 is

part of a strategic effort to address non-medical use of prescription drugs as well as opioid 

overdoses, leveraging the strengths and capabilities of each agency. The two agencies are

coordinating to ensure that the efforts are aligned with HHS’s recently established policy and

plan for prevention of Opioid-Related Overdoses and Deaths involving multiple Operating

Divisions and offices. Through this program, CDC will launch the PDO Prevention for States

program, a new competitive cooperative agreement program, to capitalize upon the infrastructure

of the existing Prevention Boost and Core VIPP program, with a specific focus on those 

interventions which exhibit the most promise for reversing the PDO epidemic. CDC will fund

states through a competitive cooperative agreement and will target states that contribute

34 Warner M, Chen LH, Makuc DM, Anderson RN, Miniño AM. Drug poisoning deaths in the United States, 1980–

2008. NCHS data brief, no 81. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2011.

35 Paulozzi L, Jones C, Mack K, Rudd R; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vital signs: overdoses

of prescription opioid analgesics—United States, 1999-2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011; 60(43):1487-

1492.

36 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WONDER [database]. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and

Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2013. Available at http://wonder.cdc.gov.

155 
significantly to the national burden of prescription drug overdose morbidity and mortality. CDC

will incorporate each state’s burden of PDO in the competitive process to test and implement

best practices for the identification, treatment, and control of prescription drug abuse. CDC will

provide funding to states to address opioid prescribing on multiple fronts, and SAMHSA will

provide funding to states for the prevention of prescription drug misuse and abuse in high

priority age groups (including young and middle-aged adults) and the general public. 

SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF Rx) will raise

awareness about the dangers of sharing medications and work with pharmaceutical and medical

communities on the risks of overprescribing to young adults. SAMHSA’s program will also

focus on raising community awareness and bringing prescription drug abuse prevention activities

and education to schools, communities, parents, prescribers, and their patients.

The FY 2016 SPF Rx program will continue to develop capacity and expertise in the use of data

from state prescription drug monitoring programs to identify communities by geography and

high-risk populations (e.g., age group), particularly those communities that are in need of primary

and secondary prevention. In addition, grantees can use these resources to provide technical

assistance and training on the use of SAMHSA’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Tool Kit to prevent 

overdose deaths. Funding will support up to 20 state planning grants, technical assistance

and evaluation to build capacity to address prescription drug abuse, and overdose prevention 

efforts, in conjunction with other state and local partners. 

SAMHSA will track reductions in opioid overdoses and the incorporation of Prescription Drug

Monitoring Program (PDMP) data into needs assessments and strategic plans as indicators of 

program success.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $109,754,080

FY 2013 $107,901,970

FY 2014 $109,484,000

FY 2015 $109,484,000

FY 2016 $118,254,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $118.3 million at the program level with $108.3 million from

Budget Authority and $10.0 million from Public Health Service (PHS) Evaluation Funds. This is

a net increase of $8.8 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level with a $1.2 million decrease from

Budget Authority and a $10.0 million increase in PHS Evaluation Funds for the new Strategic

Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF-Rx) program. SPF-Rx will raise public 

awareness about the dangers of sharing medications and to work with pharmaceutical and medical

communities to raise awareness on the risks of overprescribing. The FY 2016 SPF program 

will provide funds to develop capacity and expertise in the use of data from state prescription

drug monitoring programs to identify communities by geography and high-risk populations 

(e.g., age group), particularly those communities that are in need of primary and

156 
secondary prevention. In addition, grantees can use SAMHSA’s resources to provide technical

assistance and training on the use of SAMHSA’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Tool Kit to help

prevent opioid overdose related deaths. Funding will support up to 20 state planning grants,

technical assistance and evaluation to build capacity to address prescription drug abuse, and

overdose prevention efforts, in conjunction with other state and local partners.

Outputs and Outcomes Table 

Program: Partnerships for Success

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1,2,3 Only cohort I reporting

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

2.3.78 Number of communities who report an

increase in prevention activities that are

supported by collaboration and leveraging of

funding streams (Output)

FY 2013: 361

Target:

50

(Target Not Met)

142 375 +233

2.3.79 Number of EBPs implemented by

sub-recipient communities(Output)

FY 2013: 8462

Target:

950

(Target Not Met)

1,850 1,850 Maintain

2.3.80 Number ofsub-recipient communities

that improved on one or more targeted NOMs

indicators(Outcome)

FY 2013: 453

Target:

50

(Target Not Met but

Improved)

142 294 +152

157 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: SPF Rx

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

3.3.11 Number of funded states that

incorporate PDMP data into their needs

assessments in developing their strategic

plans(Outcome)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2016

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

3.3.12 Number of funded states reporting

reductions in opioid overdoses (Outcome)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2016

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

158 
Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program

(Dollars in thousands)

Authorizing Legislation ........................................................................ Section 516 of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ..................................................................................................... IAA/Contracts

Eligible Entities...................................................................... Federal Agencies, Regulated Entities

(E.g. Department of Transportation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission),

NLCP Certified Laboratories

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program (DFWP) consists of two principal activities

mandated by Executive Order (E.O.) 12564 and Public Law (P.L.) 100-71: 1) oversight of the

DFWP, aimed at the elimination of illicit drug use within Executive Branch agencies and the

regulated industry; and 2) oversight of the National Laboratory Certification Program (NLCP),

which certifies laboratories to conduct forensic drug testing for federal agencies, federally

regulated industries and the private sector.

First signed on September 15, 1986, E.O. 12564 requires the head of each executive agency to

establish a comprehensive Drug-Free Workplace Plan that includes supervisor/employee 

education, an Employee Assistance Program, and a random testing component to test for illegal

drug use by federal employees in safety-sensitive positions. The E.O. also requires the Secretary

of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate scientific and technical guidelines for drugtesting programs.

The Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1987 (Public Law 100-71) included language which

requires HHS to: (1) certify that each Executive Branch agency has developed a plan for

achieving a drug-free workplace; and (2) publish Mandatory Guidelines (MG) that establish

comprehensive standards for laboratory drug testing procedures, specify the drugs for which

federal employees may be tested, and establish standards and procedures for periodic review and

certification of laboratories to perform drug testing for federal agencies.

The program is further supported by the CSAP Workplace Helpline, a toll-free telephone service

(800-WORKPLACE) for businesses that answers questions about drug testing in the workplace. 

SAMHSA funded the DFWP drug testing activities in FY 2014 and will continue do so in

FY 2015 through the National Laboratory Certification Program (NLCP) contract. The NLCP

oversees the certification of the labs used for testing drug samples under the Drug-Free

Workplace Program. The Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB) provides recommendations to

the Administrator, SAMHSA, with an ongoing review of the direction, scope, balance, and

emphasis of the Agency's drug testing activities and the NLCP. On January 10, 2012, SAMHSA

Programs ofRegional & NationalSignificance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Federal Drug-Free Workplace $4,894 $4,894 $4,894 $---

159 
approved the DTAB recommendations to revise the MG to include oral fluid as an alternative

specimen to urine as well as include additional Schedule II prescription drug medications (e.g., 

oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and hydromorphone). The DTAB will continue to

examine the scientific feasibility of hair as an alternative specimen to urine in the MG. All

changes to the MG will be based on scientific supportability and legal defensibility. SAMHSA

continues to use Subject Matter Experts and partners with other federal agencies to establish the 

scientific standards set out in the MG.

In FY 2015, continued funding for the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program will ensure the 

testing of federal employees in national security, public health, and public safety positions for

illegal drugs, and inspect/certify SAMHSA certified laboratories.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $5,196,161

FY 2013 $5,251,583

FY 2014 $4,894,000

FY 2015

FY 2016 

$4,894,000

$4,894,000 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $4.9 million is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level. In

FY 2016, SAMHSA will continue oversight of the Executive Branch Agencies’ DFWP. This

includes review of agency DFWP plans that perform federal employee testing, perform random

testing for positions of national security, public health, and public safety, and perform testing for

illegal drug use and the misuse of prescription drugs. SAMHSA will continue its oversight role

to inspect and certify the NLCP laboratories. 

Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs ofRegional & NationalSignificance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Minority AIDS $41,205 $41,205 $41,205 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................................................ Section 516 of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Cooperative Agreements/Contracts

Eligible Entities.................................Local Government Entities, Community-based Organization

and Institutions of Higher Education. 

160 
Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA supports the National HIV/AIDS Strategy through its Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI)

grant programs that focus on increasing access to substance abuse and HIV prevention services

for the highest risk and hardest-to-serve racial and ethnic minority populations. Grantees must

implement integrated, evidence-based substance abuse and HIV prevention interventions, 

including HIV testing, that target one or more high-risk populations such as young adults (18 to

24), African-American men and women, adolescents, incarcerated individuals or those who have 

been released within the past two years, and men having sex with men. In addition, the MAI

supports partnerships between public and private nonprofit organizations to prevent and reduce

the onset of substance abuse and transmission of HIV among high-risk populations. 

In FY 2013, SAMHSA continued to fund two ongoing MAI programs. The first, entitled ReadyTo-Respond Initiative (RTR) is providing a final year of funding to 36 grantees. The purpose of

the RTR program is to build on previous MAI grantee accomplishments by expanding 

knowledge and experience in developing blended substance abuse and HIV prevention practices

for at-risk minority populations. The second, entitled Capacity-Building Initiative (CBI) is

providing a final year of funding to 27 grantees. The purpose of the CBI program is to engage

colleges, universities and community-level domestic public and private non-profit entities to

prevent and reduce the onset of SA and transmission of HIV/AIDS among at-risk racial/ethnic

minority adults. 

In FY 2013, SAMHSA funded a new MAI grant program entitled Minority Serving Institutions

Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations (MSI CBOs) to 29 grantees throughout 15 

different states, including the Virgin Island and one Tribal College and/or University (TCU).

The purpose of this program is to prevent and reduce substance abuse (SA) and the transmission

of HIV/AIDS among minority young adults (ages 18 to 24) on campus and in the surrounding 

communities. In FY 2013, the number of program participants exposed to substance abuse

prevention education was 6,437. This far exceeded the target of 5,734. The number of persons 

tested for HIV in FY 2013 equaled 37,173 which exceeded the target of 32,975 and represents an

increase of over 4,000 persons tested from FY 2012. For participants in prevention education

programs, 89.5 percent remained non-users of alcohol, from the start to the end of the program. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded 21 additional MSI CBO grants in 13 different states including 

three additional TCUs. The purpose of these additional grants is to equip and empower MSIs

located in communities at the highest risk of SA, HIV and Hepatitis-C (HCV) infections to

increase access to comprehensive, integrated SA, HIV and HCV prevention services on their

campus and surrounding community to young adults (ages 18-24). 

The MAI programs cross-site evaluation report examines inputs, outputs, outcomes and the 

relationships among them. A few of the findings include: 1) participants who received ProtocolBased Counseling (PBC) when compared to participants who did not receive PBC were more

likely to show decreases in past 30-day use of illicit drugs (excluding marijuana), increases in

protected oral and vaginal sex, and increases in sexual self-efficacy, 2) participants who received

Comprehensive Risk Counseling Services (CRCS) were more likely to increase their perception

of risk of harm from using marijuana when compared to participants who did not receive this

161 
intervention; 3) minority program participants who received Brief Alcohol Screening and

Intervention for College Students (BASICS) had a higher likelihood of improving the following

outcomes: past 30 day alcohol use, marijuana use, and illicit drug excluding marijuana, and

perception of harm from unprotected anal sex. 

SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and

CSAP jointly administer the FY 2014 Minority AIDS Initiative Continuum of Care Pilot - 

Integration of HIV Prevention and Medical Care into Mental Health and Substance Abuse 

Treatment Programs for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations at High Risk for Behavioral Health

Disorders and HIV (Short Title: MAI CoC Pilot: Integration of HIV Medical Care into BH

Programs or “CoC”). The purpose of this jointly funded program is to integrate care (mental and

substance use disorder treatment, substance abuse prevention, and HIV medical care services) for

racial/ethnic minority populations at high risk for behavioral health disorders and high risk for or

living with HIV. The grant will fund programs that provide coordinated and integrated services

through the co-location of behavioral health treatment and HIV medical care. There is significant

co-morbidity of viral hepatitis with HIV infection; additionally, viral hepatitis occurs in up to

20 percent of those with either substance use disorders or serious mental illness. In order to

address this, five percent of the allocated funds will be used to provide services to prevent, 

screen, test and refer to treatment as clinically appropriate those at risk for or living with viral

hepatitis.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA will provide funding for up to 77 new grantees under both the MSI CBO

and CBI programs. The purpose of the MSI CBO program will continue to be prevention and

reduction of substance abuse (SA) and the transmission of HIV/AIDS among minority young 

adults (ages 18 to 24) on campus and in the surrounding communities. The purpose of the CBI

program will continue to be engagement of colleges, universities and community-level domestic

public and private non-profit entities focused on the prevention and reduction of the onset of SA

and transmission of HIV/AIDS among at-risk racial/ethnic minority adults. 

SAMHSA supports an HIV Consolidated Evaluation. The primary purpose is to conduct a 

comprehensive process and outcome evaluation of all SAMHSA HIV Programs to address the 

degree to which SAMHSA is providing effective and efficient mental and substance use disorder 

services to those living with HIV through its funded HIV grant efforts. The evaluation results

will be used to inform program development and refine the approach used in SAMHSA’s HIV

portfolio. 

The expected outcomes for the MAI HIV programs include reducing the impact of mental and

substance use disorders, HIV risk and incidence, and HIV-related health disparities in the nation. 

These programs ensure that individuals who are at high risk for or have a mental and/or substance 

use disorder and who are most at risk for or are living with HIV/AIDS have access to and receive

appropriate behavioral health services (including prevention and treatment and rapid HIV testing),

HIV/AIDS care and medical treatment in integrated behavioral health and primary care settings

(that may include infectious disease or other HIV specialty providers).

Expected outcomes for the HIV CoC programs include: 1) increased HIV testing to identify

behavioral health clients who are unaware of their HIV status; 2) increased diagnosis of HIV

among behavioral health clients; 3) increased number of clients who are linked to HIV medical

162 
care; 4) increased number of behavioral health clients who are retained in care; 5) increased

number of behavioral health clients who are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART); 6) improved 

adherence to behavioral treatment and ART; 7) increased number of behavioral health clients

who have sustained viral suppression; and 8) increased adherence and retention in behavioral 

health (both substance use and mental disorders) treatment. SAMHSA HIV/AIDS programs to

be evaluated under this task order include at least 4 cohorts of grantees.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $41,306,782

FY 2013 $40,995,653

FY 2014 $41,205,000

FY 2015

FY 2016 

$41,205,000

$41,205,000 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $41.2 million is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level. These

funds continue to address a critical public health problem and health disparity and provide lifesaving prevention services, including testing.

163 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Minority AIDS

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1

Target has been revised from previously reported. Target has been changed to include Cohorts VII, VIII, IX, and X. 2

Target has been reduced to reflect a decrease in number of grants in FY 2015 resulting in fewer participants.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

2.3.56 Increase the number of program

participants exposed to substance abuse

prevention education services (Output)

FY 2013: 6,437

Target:

5,7341

(Target Exceeded)

2,5802 2,580 Maintain

2.3.83 Percent of program participants who

report no use of alcohol at pre-test who

remain non-users at post-test (all ages)

(Outcome)

FY 2013: 89.5%

Target:

91.2%

(Target Not Met but

Improved)

91.2% 91.2% Maintain

2.3.85a Number of persons tested for HIV

through the Minority AIDS Initiative

prevention activities (Outcome)

FY 2013: 37,173

Target:

32,975

(Target Exceeded)

35,074 35,074 Maintain

164 
Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act)

(Dollars in thousands)

Authorizing Legislation ......................................................................Section 519B of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities............................................ Current and former Drug-Free Communities grantees

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) of 2006 (Public Law 109- 

422) was the nation’s first comprehensive legislation on underage drinking. One of the primary

components of the STOP Act is the community-based coalition enhancement grant program,

which provides up to $50,000 per year over four years to current or former grantees under the 

Drug Free Communities Act of 1997 to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth under age 

21. The STOP Act grant program enables organizations to strengthen collaboration and

coordination among stakeholders to achieve a reduction in underage drinking in their

communities. In FY 2014, SAMHSA supported 97 grant continuations and will continue that

support in FY 2015. 

In FY 2013, the STOP Act grantees’ performance exceeded expectations on two of the three

GPRA measures. Almost 74 percent of coalitions reported at least five percent improvement on 

past 30 day alcohol use in at least two grades. This is a slight increase since FY 2012. In FY 

2013, 61.5 percent of coalitions reported an increase in youth perception of parental disapproval 

of alcohol use, exceeding the target and showing over a three percentage point increase over

FY 2012. In FY 2013, 52.8 percent of coalitions reported improvement in perceived risk of 

alcohol in at least two grades. This is a reduction from the prior year and does not meet the target.

These data are critical as perceptions play a key role in youth’s alcohol use. If youth believe that

alcohol is risky or their parents disapprove of alcohol use, they are less likely to drink. This

result reflects recent national reductions in perceived risk. Perceived risk is a consistent leading

indicator of future increases in use, and underscores the need to continue and expand SAMHSA’s

efforts to reduce underage drinking. SAMHSA will start a robust cross-site evaluation of current

STOP Act grantees in FY 2015. Outcomes will be available in FY 2016. 

Another component of the STOP Act is the National Adult-Oriented Media Public Service

Campaign to prevent underage drinking “Talk. They Hear You”. The national media campaign

engages parents and caregivers of youth aged 9-15 on how to have a conversations about the

dangers of underage drinking to delay the onset of, and ultimately reduce, underage drinking. In

2014, the campaign resulted in more than 2.5 billion impressions from television, radio, print and

mobile platforms, with good representation across the United States. This includes a presence in

all fifty states, over 300 cities nationwide, including American Indian/Alaska Native communities,

and presence in more than 30,000 health care offices. Further research continues

Programs ofRegional & NationalSignificance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

SoberTruthonPreventingUnderageDrinking(STOPAct) $6,983 $7,000 $7,000 $---

165 
to show that parents and caregivers of youth generally underestimate the extent of alcohol used

by youth and the associated consequences. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will continue to support the 

National Adult-Oriented Media Public Service Campaign.

The third component of the STOP Act is the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the 

Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), which provides high-level leadership from 15

federal agencies for coordinating federal efforts to prevent and reduce underage drinking. In

FY 2015, SAMHSA will continue to support the ICCPUD.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $6,986,770

FY 2013 $6,993,928

FY 2014 $6,983,000

FY 2015

FY 2016 

$7,000,000

$7,000,000 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $7.0 million is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level. This

funding will support 97 continuation grants in FY 2016. Eligible entities include current and

former Drug-Free Communities grantees.

166 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP Act)

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1,2,3 Targets were reduced due to fewer new grantees and annual closeout of mature grantees.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

3.3.01 Percentage of coalitions that report at

least 5% improvement in the past 30- day use

of alcohol in at least two grades (Outcome)

FY 2013: 73.9%

Target:

40%1

(Target Exceeded)

62% 62% Maintain

3.3.02 Percentage of coalitions that report

improvement in youth perception of risk from

alcohol in at least two grades (Outcome)

FY 2013: 52.8%

Target:

60.9%2

(Target Not Met)

68% 68% Maintain

3.3.03 Percentage of coalitions that report

improvement in youth perception of parental

disapproval on the use of alcohol in at least

two grades (Outcome)

FY 2013: 61.5%

Target:

54.5%3

(Target Exceeded)

65% 65% Maintain

167 
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs ofRegional & NationalSignificance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder $998 $1,000 $1,000 $---

Authorizing Legislation .......................................................................Sections 516 of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Center for Excellence (CFE) program focuses on 

preventing FASD among women of childbearing age and improving the quality of life for

individuals and families affected by these disorders. The FASD CFE uses a comprehensive

approach across the lifespan to work toward reducing the number of infants exposed to alcohol

prenatally, increasing the functioning of individuals who have an FASD, and addressing the

challenges of individuals and families affected by FASD.

As part of these efforts, the FASD CFE has successfully established a website that provides the 

public with information and resources on the prevention of FASD and chartered an expert panel 

that provides guidance and recommendations about best practices for healthcare providers and

social service organizations. The FASD CFE has also organized a Self-Advocates with FASD

Network (comprised of young adults with FASD) and a Birth Mothers Network which advocate

for services, provide mutual support, and work to improve the quality of life for people with

FASD. In addition, the FASD CFE partnered with the NIH National Institute on Alcohol Abuse 

and Alcoholism’s Interagency Coordinating Committee on FASD to advance new research and

best practices on FASD. The FASD CFE also coordinated and collaborated with organizations 

such as the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to develop curricula for juvenile 

justice systems and certified addictions counselors and provided ongoing support to the National

Association of FASD State Coordinators to integrate FASD services into existing health care

systems. Finally, the FASD CFE convened 10 "Building FASD State Systems" annual 

conferences to facilitate the development of comprehensive systems of care for people affected

by FASD. The FASD CFE also established a Native Communities Initiative to address FASD in

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)/Native Hawaiian populations. 

In FY 2013 and FY 2014, the CFE provided technical assistance and training to other federal and

national partners to assist them in developing evidence-based prevention, intervention, and

treatment approaches. Primary audiences for the FASD CFE are women of child-bearing age,

persons and families affected by FASD, states, local communities, AI/AN communities, military

families, and other special populations, as well as health, social service, and faith-based providers 

who study and/or provide services for persons affected by FASD. In FY 2015, the FASD CFE

will continue this technical assistance.

168 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $9,802,438

FY 2013 $1,103,511

FY 2014 $998,000

FY 2015

FY 2016 

$1,000,000

$1,000,000 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $1.0 million is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level. These

funds will maintain the Center for Excellence.

Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Center forthe ApplicationofPreventionTechnologies $7,493 $7,493 $7,493 $---

PHS Evaluations Funds (non-add) --- --- 6,468 +6,468

Authorizing Legislation ........................................................................ Section 516 of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) program provides state-ofthe-art training and technical assistance to build the capacity of SAMHSA grantees and develop 

the skills, knowledge, and expertise of the prevention workforce. CAPT builds capacity and

promotes the development of substance abuse prevention professionals in the behavioral health

field through three core strategies: 1) establishing technical assistance networks using local

experts; 2) developing and delivering targeted training and technical assistance activities; and

3) using communication media such as teleconference and video conferencing, online events,

and web-based support. These activities help ensure the delivery of effective prevention programs

and practices and the development of accountability systems for performance measurement

and management.

During FY 2013, the CAPT completed a comprehensive revision and update of its flagship

Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training (SAPST), which offers participants 31 training

hours toward certification as a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist. The CAPT also

developed a Pacific Islander and Native American adaptation of the training for six additional

training hour credits. The CAPT also has continued to develop behavioral health indicators and

related training and technical assistance products focused on shared risk and protective factors to

169 
promote collaboration across substance abuse and mental health disciplines within the behavioral 

health field.

The CAPT is increasing emphasis on virtual or distance forms of service delivery and relying

more heavily on webinars and online training. Eighty-eight percent of those served reported that

the training increased their capacity to do prevention work and fully 100% reported that it

increased their organizational capacity. In 2014, the CAPT delivered its foundational SAPST

“Training of Trainers” to 296 participants who delivered the SAPST 31 times to 1,153 

participants in 28 states. Also, in 2014, the CAPT developed; a series of self-paced courses to

increase the capacity of community level grantees to use epidemiological data to guide their

prevention planning efforts, as well as webinars and coaching consultations to help grantees

identify risk and protective factors and appropriate strategies to address emerging prevention 

needs such as prescription drug misuse and youth marijuana use. In 2015, the CAPT will focus

on building the organizational capacity of high-need communities to address health disparities

and achieve benchmarks identified in SAMHSA’s Partnerships for Success program. CAPT will

continue to strengthen the prevention workforce, overall, by increasing the availability of 

interactive virtual trainings on using epidemiological data and risk and protective factors to guide

implementation of effective prevention strategies for prescription drug misuse and opioid abuse 

and overdose, binge drinking in college populations and underage drinking. 

In FY 2014, funding continued the CAPT activities and in FY 2015, funding will continue to

support the delivery of technical assistance and workforce development to the prevention field.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $8,058,740

FY 2013 $8,097,521

FY 2014 $7,493,000

FY 2015

FY 2016 

$7,493,000

$7,493,000 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $7.5 million is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level. These

funds will continue to provide technical assistance and workforce development to the prevention 

field.

170 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Prevention – Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT)

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1 Results are preliminary and will be updated when additional data is available. 2 Target aggregates CSAT and CMHS Science and Service individuals trained, and CSAP CAPT individuals trained.

Target reduced from previously reported due to methodological change in data collection.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.4.09 Increase the number of individuals

trained by SAMHSA's Science and Services

Program (Output)

FY 2014: 54,8831

Target: 110,000

(Target Not Met)

42,0632 40,947 -1,116

1.4.11 Prevention: Increase the number of

individuals trained by SAMHSA' Science

and Services Program (Output)

FY 2013: 7,719

(Baseline)

5,216 5,216 Maintain

1.4.12 Percent of participants that agree or

strongly agree that the training or TA

provided increased their capacity to do

substance abuse prevention work (Outcome)

FY 2013: 88%

(Baseline)

90% 90% Maintain

1.4.13 Percent of participants that agree or

strongly agree that the training or TA

provided increased their organization's

capacity to do substance abuse prevention

work (Outcome)

FY 2013: 93%

(Baseline)

92% 95% +3%

171 
Science and Service Program Coordination

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Science andService ProgramCoordination $4,072 $4,072 $4,072 $---

Authorizing Legislation ........................................................................ Section 516 of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Science and Service Program Coordination program funds the provision of technical

assistance and training to states, tribes, communities, and grantees around substance abuse 

prevention. Specifically, the contracts support the Tribal Training and Technical Assistance

(TTA) Center and the Underage Drinking Prevention Education Initiatives (UADPEI). The

Tribal TTA Center is an innovative training and technical assistance project that helps tribal

communities facilitate the development and implementation of comprehensive and collaborative

community-based prevention plans to reduce violence, bullying, and suicide among American

Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth. 

The UADPEI engages parents and other caregivers, schools, communities, all levels of 

government, all social systems that interface with youth, and youth themselves in a coordinated 

national effort to prevent and reduce underage drinking and its consequences. Through this

initiative, families, their children, and other youth-serving organizations have been reached

through Town Hall Meetings, technical assistance, trainings, and a variety of tools and materials.

Efficiencies have been achieved from the growing focus on train-the-trainer models rather than

training of individuals. In addition, since the Town Hall Meetings under the UADPEI contract

occur biennially, numbers served increase in the years the meetings occur and decrease in

alternate years.

In FY 2014, community-based organizations registered to host 1,345 events. These events were

held in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories. Approximately 1,160 

individuals attended live online training webinars and SAMHSA responded to 1,301 requests for

technical assistance in planning, promoting, hosting, and evaluating events. Science and Service

performance data for FY 2012 demonstrate that 15,269 people were trained and almost 9,000 

received technical assistance. In FY 2014 SAMHSA provided continuation funding for these

activities and in FY 2015, SAMHSA will continue to support training and technical assistance.

172 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $4,779,949

FY 2013 $5,168,406

FY 2014 $4,072,000

FY 2015

FY 2016

$4,072,000

$4,072,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $4.1 million includes level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted

Level to continue to support SAMHSA’s top strategic initiative, prevention of substance abuse

and mental illness, which includes a focus on preventing underage drinking and on American

Indians/Alaska Natives.

Tribal Behavioral Health Grants

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Tribal Behavioral Health Grants $--- $--- $15,000 +$15,000

Authorizing Legislation ................................................. Sections 516, 519B, 519D of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities....................................................................................................................... Tribes

Program Description

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)

youth ages 8 to 24 years.37 AI/AN high school students report higher rates of suicidal behaviors 

(serious thoughts of suicide, making suicide plans, attempting suicide, and getting medical

attention for a suicide attempt) than the general population of U.S. high school students.38 In

addition, about 90 percent of those who die by suicide had a mental disorder at the time of their

deaths.39

In FY 2014, Congress appropriated $5.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation to SAMHSA

to address the high incidence of substance abuse and suicide among AI/AN populations. The

37 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fatal injury data, 2010. Web-based Injury statistics Query and

Reporting System. Available at www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html. Accessed May 27, 2014.

38 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Available at

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/index.htm. Accessed May 27, 2014.

39 American Association of Suicidology. (2012). Suicide in the USA Based on 2010 Data. Washington, DC:

American Association of Suicidology. Available at:

http://www.suicidology.org/Portals/14/docs/Resources/FactSheets/SuicideUSA2012.pdf.

173 
Appropriations Committee recommended that HHS award 20 competitive grants to tribal entities

with the highest rates of suicide for effective and promising strategies that address substance

abuse and suicide and promote mental health among AI/AN young people. 

SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) awarded Tribal Behavioral Health

competitive grants of up to $0.2 million annually for a total of five years to 20 tribes or tribal

organizations with high rates of suicide in FY 2014. The grants will help grantees develop and

implement a plan that addresses suicide and substance abuse, thereby promoting mental health

among tribal youth. In addition, SAMHSA’s Tribal Technical Assistance Center provides 

technical assistance to grantees to support their ability to achieve their goals. An evaluation

component will allow grantees and SAMHSA to work collaboratively to monitor progress and

learn from each other. SAMHSA will incorporate lessons learned to enhance this program and

other national efforts to reduce suicide and substance abuse and support positive mental health

among AI/ANs. SAMHSA will continue the support of this program in FY 2015. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $15,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request for the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant (TBHG) program is

$30.0 million, including $15.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 million in

the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This request represents an increase over the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level of $10.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 million

for a newly established line in the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This funding is

part of Generation Indigenous, a Native youth initiative focused on removing possible barriers to

success for Native youth. This initiative will take a comprehensive, culturally appropriate 

approach to help improve the lives and opportunities for Native youth. In addition to HHS,

multiple agencies, including the Departments of Interior, Education, Housing and Urban

Development, Agriculture, Labor, and Justice, are working collaboratively with tribes to address

issues facing Native youth. This funding will allow SAMHSA to expand activities that are

critical to preventing substance abuse and promoting mental health and resiliency among youth 

in tribal communities. The additional funding will expand these activities to approximately 103 

additional tribes and tribal entities. With the expansion of the TBHG program, SAMHSA aims

to reduce substance use and the incidence of suicide attempts among Native youth and to address

behavioral health conditions which impact learning in Bureau of Indian Education-funded 

schools. The TBHG program will support mental health promotion and substance use prevention 

activities for high-risk Native youth and their families, enhance early detection of mental and

substance use disorders among Native youth, and increase referral to treatment.

174 
Program: Tribal Behavioral Health

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

2.4.10 Number of grantees reporting a

decrease in underage drinking in their

community (Output)

FY 2016: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2017

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

2.4.11 Number of participants receiving

evidence-based mental health –related

services as a result of the grant (Output)

FY 2016: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

2.4.12 Number of youth age 10 – 24 who

received mental health or related services

after screening, referral or attempt

(Output)

FY 2016: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

2.4.13 The number of

programs/organizationsthat implemented

specific mental-health related

practices/activities as a result of the grant

(Outcome)

FY 2016: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2015

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

175 
Grants to Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose Related Deaths

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Grants to Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose Related Dealths $--- $--- $12,000 +$12,000

Authorizing Legislation ........................................................................ Section 516 of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................Competitive Grants, Contracts

Eligible Entities........................................................................................................................ States

Program Description

Opioid overdose is a significant contributor to accidental deaths among those who use, misuse,

or abuse illicit and prescription opioids. Opioid overdose accounted for 71 percent of all deaths

related to pharmaceutical overdose in 2013.40 Opioids include illegal drugs such as heroin, as

well as prescription medications used to treat pain. These medications include morphine, codeine, 

methadone, oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percodan, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab,

Norco), fentanyl (Duragesic, Fentora), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo), and buprenorphine 

(Subutex, Suboxone). Opioids bind to specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord and

gastrointestinal tract and reduce the body’s perception of pain. As opioids reduce pain, they 

induce a slight sense of euphoria, which can lead to over use. Between 2001 and 2010, U.S.

overdose deaths involving prescription opioid analgesics nearly doubled to almost 17,000 deaths

a year.41,42 This increase coincided with a nearly fourfold increase in the use of prescribed

opioids for the treatment of pain.43

In 2013, SAMHSA released the Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit to help reduce the number 

of opioid-related overdose deaths and adverse events. Developed by the Association of State and

Territorial Health Officials, the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors,

the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence and SAMHSA, the toolkit 

was the first federal resource that includes safety and prevention information for persons at risk

for overdose, and provides information on how to recognize and respond appropriately to

overdose, identifies specific drug-use behaviors to avoid, and describes the role of naloxone in

preventing death from an overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses the effects of

opioids, including respiratory depression. A growing evidence base suggests that naloxone is a 

cost-effective method to reduce opioid overdose deaths.

40 Prescription Drug Overdose in the United States: Fact Sheet. 41 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. CDC WONDER Online

Database, 2012. 42 Beletsky LB, Rich JD, Walley AY. Prevention of fatal opioid overdose. JAMA. 2013;308(180): 1863–1864.

43 Harvard Medical School. Painkillers fuel growth in drug addiction: Opioid overdoses now kill more people than

cocaine or heroin. Harvard Mental Health Let. 2011;27(7):4–5.

176 
The toolkit is currently the most downloaded SAMHSA publication with approximately 10,500 

downloads per month. This highlights the success of the product and the magnitude of the

problem which SAMHSA works to address. The toolkit provides evidence-based guidance for

using safe prescribing practices, identifying patients at risk for overdose, engaging patients in

prevention and risk-reduction efforts, and accessing addiction treatment. It gives communities

and local governments the material to develop policies and practices in order to prevent and

respond appropriately to opioid-related overdose.

As the rates of prescription drug misuse and abuse, heroin use, overdoses, and opioid-related

overdose deaths increase, communities are searching for ways to reduce the death rate from

opioid-related overdoses. SAMHSA proposes a $12.0 million grant program to help states

identify communities of high need, and provide education, training, and resources necessary to

tailor the overdose kits to meet their specific needs. The grant funds could be used for

purchasing naloxone, equipping first responders with naloxone and other overdose death

prevention strategies, supporting education on these strategies, providing materials to assemble

and disseminate overdose kits.

These grantees would be required to develop a dissemination plan and a training course tailored

to meet the needs of their community. The course would use SAMHSA’s Opioid Overdose 

Prevention Toolkit as a guide, and include a comprehensive prevention program which will focus

on prevention, treatment and recovery services to decrease the likelihood of drug overdose 

recurrence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will evaluate this grant

program for its efficacy in reducing overdose deaths from opioids. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $12,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $12.0 million, which is $12.0 million above the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. This new program will provide grants to 10 states to reduce significantly the 

number of opioid overdose-related deaths. Funding will help states purchase naloxone, equip

first responders in high-risk communities, support education on the use of naloxone and other 

overdose death prevention strategies, provide the necessary materials to assemble overdose kits,

as well as cover expenses incurred from dissemination efforts.

177 
SAMHSA/Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

PRNS Mechanism Table by APT

(Dollars in thousands) 

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

Grants

Continuations 205 $71,911 198 $72,288 377 $141,457

New/Competing 77 60,715 108 65,119 89 27,666

Supplements 14 2,025 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 296 134,651 306 137,407 466 169,123

Contracts

Continuations 18 34,341 20 27,769 24 39,143

New 6 6,137 4 9,972 --- 2,651

Subtotal 24 40,478 24 37,741 24 41,795

Total, Substance Abuse PreventionPRNS 1 320 $175,129 330 $175,148 490 $210,918

1

The Minority Fellowship Programhas been comparably adjusted in this table to be in line with the FY2016Request and is reflected

in the Health Surveillance and ProgramSupport Appropriation under the Agency-Wide Initiatives Workforce program.

178 
SAMHSA/Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

PRNS Mechanism Table by PPA

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

CAPACITY:

Strategic Prevention

Grants

Framework

Continuations

28 $43,506 34 $55,720 131 $102,733

New/Competing 22 48,052 38 40,425 --- ---

Supplements 14 2,025 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 64 93,583 72 96,145 131 102,733

Contracts

Continuations 9 15,901 7 12,155 8 15,521

New --- --- 1 1,184 --- ---

Subtotal 9 15,901 8 13,339 8 15,521

Total, Strategic PreventionFramework 73 109,484 80 109,484 139 118,254

Grants to Prevent Prescription

Overdose RelatedDeaths

Drug/Opioid

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New --- --- --- --- 10 11,246

Subtotal --- --- --- --- 10 11,246

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New --- --- --- --- --- 754

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- 754

Total, PrescriptionandOpioidOverdose DeathPrevention --- --- --- --- 10 12,000

Federal Drug-Free

Contracts

Workplace Program

Continuations 2 4,123 5 4,427 4 3,963

New 2 771 --- 467 --- 931

Subtotal 4 4,894 5 4,894 4 4,894

Total, Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program 4 4,894 5 4,894 4 4,894

179 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Minority AIDS

Grants

Continuations 80 23,759 67 11,922 149 34,078

New/Competing 55 12,663 70 24,694 19 2,363

Subtotal 135 36,422 137 36,616 168 36,441

Contracts

Continuations --- 3,237 3 4,339 4 4,764

New 2 1,546 1 250 --- ---

Subtotal 2 4,783 4 4,589 4 4,764

Total, Minority AIDS 137 41,205 141 41,205 172 41,205

SoberTruthon Preventing Underage Drinking

Act

Grants

Continuations 97 4,646 97 4,646 97 4,646

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 97 4,646 97 4,646 97 4,646

Contracts

Continuations 2 1,384 1 1,367 2 2,354

New 1 952 1 987 --- ---

Subtotal 3 2,337 2 2,354 2 2,354

Total, STOP 100 6,983 99 7,000 99 7,000

TribalBehavioral HealthGrants

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- 60 14,057

Subtotal --- --- --- --- 60 14,057

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- 943

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- 943

Total, TribalBehavioral HealthGrants --- --- --- --- 60 15,000

Subtotal, CAPACITY 314 $162,566 325 $162,583 484 $198,353

180 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

SCIENCEAND SERVICE:

Fetal Alcohol SpectrumDisorder

Contracts

Continuations 1 $998 1 $966 1 $977

New --- --- --- 34 --- 23

Subtotal 1 998 1 1,000 1 1,000

Total, Fetal Alcohol SpectrumDisorder 1 998 1 1,000 1 1,000

Center for the Applicationof Prevention

Technologies

Contracts

Continuations 1 7,493 --- 443 1 7,493

New --- --- 1 7,050 --- ---

Subtotal 1 7,493 1 7,493 1 7,493

Total, Center for the Applicationof

Prevention Technologies 1 7,493 1 7,493 1 7,493

Science & Service ProgramCoordination

Contracts

Continuations 3 1,205 3 4,072 4 4,072

New 1 2,867 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 4 4,072 3 4,072 4 4,072

Total, Science & Service Program

Coordination

4 4,072 3 4,072 4 4,072

Subtotal, SCIENCEAND SERVICE

6 12,563 5 12,565 6 12,565

Total, CSAP 1 320 $175,129 330 $175,148 490 $210,918

1 The Minority Fellowship Program has been comparably adjusted in this table to be in line with the FY2016Request and is reflected

in the Health Surveillance and ProgramSupport Appropriation under the Agency-Wide Initiatives Workforce program.

181 
Grant Awards Table

(Whole dollars)

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's Budget

Numberof Awards 320 330 490

Average Awards $547,278 $530,752 $430,445

Range of Awards $50,000 - $2,300,000 $50,000 - $2,300,000 $50,000 - $2,300,000

182 
SAMHSA

Substance Abuse Treatment

Table of Contents

1. Substance Abuse Treatment Appropriation ......................................................................... 185

2. Programs of Regional and National Significance................................................................ 186

a) Opioid Drug Treatment/Regulatory Activities................................................................ 187

b) Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)................................. 189

c) Targeted Capacity Expansion-General (TCE-General)................................................... 192

d) Pregnant and Postpartum Women (PPW)....................................................................... 196

e) Strengthening Treatment Access and Retention (STAR)................................................ 198

f) Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP)........................................................... 200

g) Access to Recovery (ATR) ............................................................................................. 202

h) Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCASI)............................................ 205

i) Children and Family Programs ....................................................................................... 208

j) Treatment Systems for Homelessness............................................................................. 210

k) Minority AIDS ................................................................................................................ 215

l) Criminal Justice Activities.............................................................................................. 218

m) Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs) ......................................................... 224

n) Crisis Systems: Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE)............................ 225

o) Special Initiatives/Outreach ............................................................................................ 227

3. PRNS Mechanism Table by APT........................................................................................ 231

4. PRNS Mechanism Table by PPA........................................................................................ 232

5. Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant................................................... 237

183 
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184 
Substance Abuse Treatment Appropriation

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activities FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Programs ofRegionaland National Significance $360,698 $361,463 $320,701 -$40,762

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 50,000 --- --- ---

PHSEvaluation Funds(non-add) 2,000 2,000 30,000 +28,000

Substance Abuse Prevention and TreatmentBlockGrant 1,815,443 1,819,856 1,819,856 ---

PHSEvaluation Funds(non-add) 79,200 79,200 79,200 ---

Total,Substance AbuseTreatment 1 $2,176,141 $2,181,319 $2,140,557 -$40,762

1

The Minority Fellowship Programbudgetsfromthe Mental Health, SubstanceAbuse Prevention andTreatment appropriations 

have been comparably adjusted in this table to be in line with the FY 2016 Request and are reflected in the Health Surveillance 

and Program Support Appropriation under the Agency-Wide Initiatives Workforce program. 

The Substance Abuse Treatment appropriation request is $2.1 billion, a decrease of $40.8 million

from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. The request includes $2.0 billion in Budget Authority (a

decrease of $68.8 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level) and $109.2 million in PHS

Evaluation funds (which is an increase of $28.0 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level).

185 
Programs of Regional and National Significance

Substance Abuse Treatment Appropriation

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/- 

FY 2015

CAPACITY:

Opioid Treatment Programs/Regulatory Activities $8,724 $8,724 $8,724 $8,724

Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment 46,889 46,889 30,000 -16,889

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 2,000 2,000 30,000 +28,000

TCE-General 13,223 23,223 36,303 +13,080

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Prescription Drug and

Opioid Addiction (non-add) ---

12,000 25,000 +13,000

Pregnant & Postpartum Women

15,931 15,931 15,931 ---

Strengthening Treatment Access and Retention

1,664 1,000 1,000 ---

Recovery Community Services Program 2,434 2,434 2,434 ---

Access to Recovery 50,000 38,223 --- -38,223

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 50,000 --- --- ---

Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration --- --- 20,000 +20,000

Children and Families 29,605 29,605 29,605 ---

Treatment Systems for Homeless 41,386 41,386 41,386 ---

Minority AIDS 65,570 65,570 58,859 -6,711

Criminal Justice Activities 74,816 78,000 61,946 -16,054

Subtotal, Capacity 350,242 350,985 306,188 -44,797

SCIENCE AND SERVICE: 

Addiction Technology Transfer Centers 9,024 9,046 8,081 -965

Crisis Systems --- --- 5,000 +5,000

Special Initiatives/Outreach 1,432 1,432 1,432 ---

Subtotal, Science and Service 10,456 10,478 14,513 +4,035

TOTAL, PRNS1 $360,698 $361,463 $320,701 -$40,762

1

The Minority Fellowship Program budget is reflected within the Health Surveillance and Program Support appropriation

under the Agency-wide Initiatives Workforce program and is consistent with the FY 2016 Budget Request.

186 
Opioid Drug Treatment/Regulatory Activities

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY

FY

2016

+/- 

2015

Opioid Treatment Programs/Regulatory Activities $8,724 $8,724 $8,724 $---

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities............................................................... American Society of Addiction Medicine 

American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, American Medical Association

American Osteopathic Association, American Psychiatric Association 

American Dental Associations, and States

Program Description and Accomplishments

As part of its regulatory responsibility, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration (SAMHSA) certifies Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) that use methadone,

buprenorphine, or buprenorphine/naloxone to treat patients with opioid dependence. SAMHSA

carries out this responsibility by enforcing regulations established by an accreditation-based

system. This is accomplished in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration, states,

territories, and the District of Columbia. SAMHSA also funds the OTP Medical Education and

Supporting Services project aimed at preparing OTPs to achieve accreditation and providing 

technical assistance and clinical training to enhance program clinical activities. Program

performance and the quality of the OTPs are monitored primarily by accreditation bodies to

provide information that can be used to improve services and provide recommendations for

future directions.

In FY 2013, SAMHSA awarded seven cooperative agreements for Electronic Health Record

(EHR) and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) Data Integration grants. The purpose 

of this program is to reduce prescription drug misuse and abuse by providing healthcare providers 

with access to PDMP data. This allows providers to make sound clinical decisions by integrating

that information into their regular clinical workflow. Grant funds will assist states in addressing

prescription drug misuse and abuse by integrating the PDMP data into EHRs and other health

information technology (HIT) systems. These grant funds can only be used for the purposes of 

integrating PDMP data into health information systems. The funds cannot be used to enhance or 

expand existing PDMPs.

SAMHSA funds a number of grants and contracts that support the regulatory oversight and

monitoring activities of OTPs. In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded the Physician Clinical Support

System-Opioids (PCSS-O) through one new grant. PCSS-O is a national mentoring network 

offering clinical updates, evidence-based outcomes, and training to physicians and other medical

professionals on the appropriate use of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain and opioid 

addiction. In FY 2014, SAMHSA also supported continuations of two three-year grants (one 

Physicians Clinical Support Systems – Medication-Assisted Treatment (PCSS-MAT) and one 

ATTC-Hepatitis support). SAMHSA also supported 14 contracts that focused activities such as

187 
physician waiver notifications refining the Buprenorphine Waiver Notification System, training

to ensure the availability of qualified healthcare professionals, administering the appropriate 

treatment protocols, physician training on safe and appropriate prescribing of opioids, and

technical support to address accreditation guidelines development. 

SAMHSA also ensures that the accreditation bodies are using sound and evidence-based

approaches in accrediting OTPs through SAMHSA staff monitoring of the accrediting process

and procedures. In addition to SAMHSA’s significant regulatory oversight (42 CFR Part 8), the 

agency, in collaboration with other federal partners, provides guidance, education, training and

other activities to enhance current efforts related to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).

In order to strengthen efforts and reduce the negative consequences of increasing use/misuse and

abuse of opioids, including heroin, SAMHSA will work to ensure that tools, information, and

technical assistance about opioid treatment reach individuals, families, communities, states, and

health professionals. 

In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support three grant continuations (PCSS-O, PCSS-MAT and

ATTC-Hepatitis), nine five-year contracts that focused on among other things, activities such as

the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (buprenophrine) physician waiver notification system,

training to ensure the availability of qualified healthcare professionals, administering the 

appropriate treatment protocols, physician training on safe and appropriate prescribing of opioids, 

and technical support to address accreditation guidelines development. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $12,886,173

FY 2013 $12,421,373

FY 2014 $8,724,000

FY 2015 $8,724,000

FY 2016 $8,724,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding will support 

two grant continuations, including the five-year ATTC-HEP support, one new three-year PCSSMAT grant, and six contracts to continue technical assistance and regulatory oversight and

monitoring of OTPs. Additionally, SAMHSA intends to fund a new cooperative agreement to

pilot two Regional Medication Assisted Treatment Centers of Excellence (MATCoEs), in two of 

the ten HHS regions. The PCSS-MAT project will continue for one additional year and will

provide MAT training and related services for the other regions. The PCSS-O project will not be 

continued. Eligible entities for the new RegMATCoE include academic health centers and

leading MAT service providers in the region. The RegMATCoEs will assess the needs of the 

medical and health professions workforce, identify gaps in services within the region and engage

with local leadership in addressing these needs and gaps while supporting the overall

improvement in MAT quality of care.

188 
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/- 

FY 2015

Screening, BriefInterventionand Referralto Treatment $46,889 $46,889 $30,000 -$16,889

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 2,000 2,000 30,000 +28,000

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities.................... Single State Authority and Health Departments in States, Territories

and District of Columbia, Federally Recognized American Indian/Alaska Native Tribe or Tribal

Organizations, Domestic Public and Private Non-Profit Entities,

Public and Private Universities Colleges

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program requires state

grant recipients to implement the SBIRT model at all levels of primary care and medical facilities,

including hospitals, trauma centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other relevant

settings. Research and clinical experience support the use of SBIRT to intervene early with

alcohol and other substance use disorders, which leads to early referral and treatment. SBIRT

also identifies individuals with more serious health conditions and diverts them from costly

emergency services to general practitioners. Funds may be used for screening of substance use 

and co-occurring disorders, evidence-based client-centered brief interventions such as

motivational interviewing, brief treatment and referral to specialty care for individuals exhibiting

signs of dependency.

The purpose of the SBIRT training grants is to develop primary care workforce in order to

enhance the delivery system so that SBIRT is a part of standard medical practice. This program 

provides medical residents, students of dentistry, physician assistants, and pharmacists, nurses, 

social workers, counselors the opportunity to learn the elements of SBIRT and incorporate them

as part of their permanent practice.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded 10 new and continuing five-year state SBIRT grants, 24 threeyear Medical Professional Training grants totaling 22 continuation and 12 new grant awards, and

supporting 11 five-year contracts. It is estimated that the state grants will support the screening

of an additional 327,700 individuals. 

In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support continuation of nine five-year state SBIRT grants and

15 three-year SBIRT Medical Professional Training grantees in addition to 49 new three-year

SBIRT Health Professions Student Training grants. Furthermore, SAMHSA is supporting four

contracts including technical assistance and evaluation.

189 
The SBIRT model has proven successful on those populations to which it is targeted. Since its

inception in 2003, SBIRT programs have screened over 2.0 million people. Evaluation findings

from evaluation contracts since 2009 have increasingly shown positive results. Most recently,

cross-site evaluation results of SAMHSA SBIRT implementation grants indicate that patients

receiving SBIRT services significantly reduced their days of alcohol use, days of alcohol use to

intoxication, and days of illicit drug use. The purpose of the evaluation is to conduct a robust 

process and outcome evaluation of the SBIRT program. Evaluation results suggest that

implementation guidance and technical assistance for engaging medical staff and champions,

securing adequate resources and infrastructure to deliver the full continuum of care, hiring staff

with adequate training who are able to work in challenging medical settings, and tailoring

services to the cultural needs of the patient population are essential for widespread adoption and

diffusion of SBIRT. SBIRT programs in SAMHSA’s third cohort provided evidence-based

SBIRT services and engaged approximately 500,000 patients. These findings can be used to

support the adaptation of SBIRT by states and tribal organizations. The findings also indicate

that the value of SBIRT is that it makes an “invisible” clinical issue visible by providing the 

tools to identify and address alcohol and drug use disorders at every point in public health, from

primary care to specialty care.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $53,187,412

FY 2013 $47,463,652

FY 2014 $46,889,000

FY 2015 $46,889,000

FY 2016 $30,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $30.0 million for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to

Treatment (SBIRT), a $16.9 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding will

support 49 grant continuations (three five-year state SBIRT and 46 three-year Medical

Professional Training grants), 13 new Medical Professional Training grants, and four contracts to

continue to integrate SBIRT into general medical and primary care settings. This reduction will

not result in the termination of any grants. Funding is requested to continue to support the

coordination and integration of primary care services into publicly-funded community behavioral

health settings. With the increasing adoption of SBIRT in healthcare settings, the Budget

redirects resources to other substance abuse treatment activities, such as heroin and prescription

drug abuse treatment.

190 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1

Increase in target from previously reported levels.

Measure Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.2.40 Number of clients served

(Output)

FY 2014: 283,160

Target: 

75,015

(Target Exceeded)

143,7831 143,783 Maintain

1.2.41 Percentage of clients

receiving services who had no

past month substance use

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 24%

Target: 

36%

(Target Not Met)

36% 36% Maintain

191 
Targeted Capacity Expansion-General (TCE-General)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

TCE-General $13,223 $23,223 $36,303 +$13,080

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Prescription Drug and Opioid

Addiction (non-add) --- 12,000 25,000 +13,000

Authorizing Legislation ........................................... Sections 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities........................................Domestic Public and Private Non-Profit Entities, States,

Opioid Medication-Assisted Treatment Service Providers, Outpatient Substance Abuse 

Providers, Community Mental Health Centers, and Federally Qualified Health Centers,

SAMHSA Certified Opioid Treatment Programs,

Licensed Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Targeted Capacity Expansion-General (TCE-General) program was initiated in FY 1998 to

help communities expand or enhance their ability to provide rapid, strategic, comprehensive, 

integrated, and community-based responses to a specific and well-documented substance abuse 

capacity problem. Since inception, TCE-General grants have been awarded to address the 

following targeted populations as well as urgent, unmet, and emerging treatment needs:

American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, rural

populations, methamphetamine abuse, e-therapy, grassroots partnerships, and other populations 

and issues.

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction (MAT-PDOA)

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Addiction refers to the use of Food and Drug

Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacotherapies (i.e., buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone, 

injectable extended release naltrexone) approved for the treatment of opioid use disorders in

conjunction with psychosocial and other needed interventions such that comprehensive substance 

abuse treatment is provided to achieve the ultimate goal of recovery. Opioid MAT is clinically

driven with a focus on individualized patient care and has been demonstrated to be effective in

the treatment of opioid use disorders. As part of a comprehensive treatment program, opioid 

MAT has been shown to: improve survival; increase retention in treatment; decrease illicit opioid 

use; decrease hepatitis and HIV seroconversion; decrease criminal activities; increase

employment; and improve birth outcomes. A recent study by researchers at the University of 

Washington found that more than half of U.S. counties don’t have access to one of only three

medications approved to treat opioid addiction.

SAMHSA has been involved in opioid MAT for more than a decade when the oversight of

methadone treatment was transferred from the FDA to SAMHSA. In 2000, the Drug Addiction

Treatment Act (DATA) expanded the clinical context of opioid MAT by allowing qualified

192 
physicians to dispense or prescribe specifically-approved Schedule III, IV, and V narcotic 

medications for the treatment of opioid addiction in office-based settings. More recently,

SAMHSA has worked with the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on 

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to develop guidance around the use of pharmacotherapies for

alcohol and opioid use disorders. In August 2014, SAMHSA convened a state policy academy

with officials from 10 states to assist the agency in developing strategies to address prescription 

drug abuse, with a focus on prevention, treatment (specifically MAT) and recovery.

In 2015, Congress appropriated to SAMHSA $12.0 million to expand or enhance MAT and other 

clinically-appropriate services for persons with opioid use disorders. The program will support 

grants in 11 states at $1.0 million for each of three years. In addition, SAMHSA will use 

$1.0 million to support a contract to provide technical assistance to new grantees. The program

will target those states that have demonstrated a dramatic increase in admissions for treatment of 

opioid use disorders and that have experienced the highest rates of admissions for treatment of 

opioid use disorders. Eligible populations may be limited to regions or communities at highest

risk within a state based on epidemiologic justification provided by applicants to include data

from SAMHSA’s Treatment Episode Data (TEDs) and other relevant SAMHSA datasets.

Treatment providers may include: a) existing opioid MAT service providers such as Opioid 

Treatment Programs (OTPs); b), non-OTP facilities that offer opioid MAT services and officebased opioid MAT providers; and c) providers that currently do not offer opioid MAT services

such as outpatient substance abuse programs, community mental health centers and federally

qualified health centers. Services covered by grant funds include: MAT, case management,

relapse prevention and recovery support. These new funds will enable 12 states to expand access

to opioid addiction treatment services in approximately 24 communities of greatest need.

TCE-Technology Assisted Care (TCE-TAC)

Current grants include the Expanding Care Coordination through the Use of Technology- Assisted

Care in Targeted Areas of Need (TCE-TAC) grants. People are underserved for a number of 

reasons, including lack of access to treatment in their geographic location and an inadequate 

number of providers. Technology, such as Health Information Technology (HIT), web-based

services, smart phones, mobile applications, and telehealth, can improve access to services for

these populations. Financial constraints limit use of technology by providers. The TCE-TAC’s

purpose is to enhance and/or expand the capacity of treatment providers to serve persons who

are traditionally underserved through increased use of technology. In FY 2013, the rating of 

social connectedness among program persons served by participants who received grants

under this program improved from 60.3 percent at intake to 70.5 percent at six-month 

follow-up. Also, those who reported abstinence from alcohol and/or drugs for the last 30 days

increased from 76.6 percent at intake to 79.2 percent at six-month follow-up.44

TCE-Peer to Peer (PTP)

The TCE-Peer to Peer (PTP) program expands and enhances service capacity through addiction

peer recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorders. The primary objective

is to help achieve, then maintain, recovery and to improve the overall quality of life for

44 Services Accountability Improvement System (SAIS); www.samhsa-gpra.samhsa.gov; 2013.

193 
those being served. This is assessed through increased employment, housing stability,

abstinence from substance use, social connectedness, and decreased criminal justice

involvement. In FY 2013, those who were employed or currently attending school improved 

from 16.4 percent at intake to 34.2 percent at six-month follow-up; abstinence in the past 30 days

from alcohol and drug use improved from 71.2 percent at intake to 86.8 percent at six-month 

follow-up; and those who reported stability in housing improved from 46.5 percent at intake to

56.5 percent at six-month follow-up.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded the continuation of 29 three-year grants, one new TCE-PTP

multi-year grant, one new five-year contribution to Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America

(CADCA) grant with CSAP, and eight contracts. SAMHSA will continue to monitor the progress

of the four FY 2012 HIT and four FY 2013 TCE-PTP grants. FY 2014 funds will serve

approximately 3,300 clients. 

In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support 30 three-year grant continuations and three contracts

that provide a mechanism by which SAMHSA grantees may obtain professional technical help

with the implementation and operation of most aspects of grant work.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $27,980,018

FY 2013 $26,516,495

FY 2014 $13,223,000

FY 2015 $23,223,000

FY 2016 $36,303,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $36.3 million includes an increase of $13.1 million from the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level for Targeted Capacity Expansion-General. The increase will be used to

support a new activity under the Targeted Capacity Expansion program entitled Medication

Assisted Treatment for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction. This funding is part of a joint 

effort by SAMHSA and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to improve

access to MAT services for treating opioid use disorders, with a focus on heroin and prescription

opioids. SAMHSA will use this funding to provide grants to states to support opioid MAT

efforts in high-risk communities, to educate, and to provide technical assistance. States can use 

this funding to purchase medication to expand MAT services. This program will increase the 

number of states from 11 to 22 that receive funding to expand services that address prescription 

drug misuse and heroin use in high-risk communities. This new funding is expected to serve an

additional 24 high-risk communities.

In addition, FY 2016 funding will support 11 MAT-PDOA grant continuations, a three-year

continuation for the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America grant, and three contracts that

offer professional technical assistance, as well as 16 new TCE-PTP and 13 new TCE-TAC threeyear grants to continue to enhance and/or expand the capacity of treatment providers to serve

194 
persons who are traditionally underserved and to help achieve and maintain recovery and to

improve the overall quality of life for those being served.

Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Treatment – Opioid Medication-Assisted Treatment: Prescription Drug and

Opioid Addiction

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted 

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget. 

Measure Year and Most Recent Result/

Target for Recents 

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

Fy 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.3.01 Increase the number of admissions

Medication Assisted Treatment (Output)

for FY 2016: Result

Expected Dec 31, 2016

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

1.3.02 Increase

integrated care

(Output)

number of clients receiving FY 2016: Result

Expected Dec 31, 2016

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

1.3.03 Decrease

follow-up

illicit drug use at 6-months FY 2016: Result

Expected Dec 31, 2016

Target:

Set Baseline

(Pending)

195 
Pregnant and Postpartum Women (PPW)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/- 

FY2015

Pregnant & Postpartum Women $15,931 $15,931 $15,931 $---

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 508 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities.................................................... Domestic Public and Private Non-Profit Entities

Program Description and Accomplishments

As part of SAMHSA’s Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiatives, the Pregnant and Postpartum 

Women (PPW) program has supported gender-specific and culturally-specific treatment service

grants for pregnant, postpartum, and other parenting women. Using a family-centered, traumainformed treatment approach in residential and community settings, the PPW program is

designed to support comprehensive substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery support 

services for women, their minor children, and family members. PPW supports sustained recovery

for individuals and family members, coordinates with services in the community, and improves 

overall family functioning.

The PPW program provides a variety of services and case management for women, children, and

families. Services available to women include: outreach, engagement, pre-treatment, screening

and assessment; detoxification, substance abuse education, treatment, and relapse-prevention, 

healthcare services, including mental health services; postpartum health care including attention

to depression, anxiety, and medication needs; parenting education and interventions; home 

management and life skills training and education; testing, counseling, and treatment of hepatitis,

HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Services available to children include 

screenings and developmental diagnostic assessments regarding the social, emotional, cognitive, 

and physical status of infants at birth through their developmental trajectories; developmental

diagnostic assessments, prevention assessments; and interventions related to mental, emotional,

and behavioral wellness. Services for families include family-focused programs to support 

family strengthening; including involvement with the child’s other parent. The PPW program

provides crucial services not covered under most public and private insurance.

Performance outcomes from the PPW program from 2003-2013 find that six months following 

admission to services, approximately 82 percent of clients are abstinent from illicit substance

use, 26 percent are employed or engaged in productive activity, and 22 percent report having 

permanent housing.45 Based on an in-depth review of cross-site evaluation and performance data

in FY 2014, SAMHSA built the current PPW model on an evidence-based approach for serving 

45 Services Accountability Improvement System (SAIS); www.samhsa-gpra.samhsa.gov; 2013.

196 
pregnant and post-partum women in need of residential substance abuse treatment. Beginning in

January 2015, a new five year evaluation of the PPW Program will begin. The evaluation will

assess the effectiveness of the PPW Program, document best practices and lessons learned,

disseminate lessons learned that can be applied in other treatment modalities, and guide

programmatic and policy changes. The evaluation will include a process and outcome evaluation

based on data from biannual and quarterly progress reports, local evaluations, GPRA data, and

other qualitative or quantitative data, as is deemed necessary.

In FY 2013, SAMHSA funded 25 three-year continuation awards and supported four contracts

that provide technical assistance to help grantees with the implementation and operation of most 

aspects of grant work. In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded 19 new three-year grants, six grant

continuations, and four contracts to continue support of comprehensive substance abuse

prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for women. The FY 2014 funds supported 

services to approximately 950 women, 1,900 children, and 1,000 other family members. The

PPW program continues to be enhanced with the addition of tobacco use counseling and

interventions, screening and assessment for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders (FASD),

screening and assessment for depression and anxiety; and offering a comprehensive service

system that is trauma-informed. 

In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to award six three-year PPW grants totaling $3 million. In addition,

SAMHSA will fund 1 one-year Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) supplemental

grant, which will develop curriculum and disseminate the PPW family-centered model to

organizations and providers outside the grant program. SAMHSA will fund four contracts to

continue support of comprehensive substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery support 

services for women as done in FY 2014. SAMHSA is also studying sustainability models, 

developing training curriculum and planning for a state policy academy in order to encourage the 

wider adoption of the PPW family-centered approach at the state level.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $15,969,760

FY 2013 $15,634,446

FY 2014 $15,931,000

FY 2015 $15,931,000

FY 2016 $15,931,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level for the 

PPW program. Funding will support 25 three-year residential treatment grant continuations and

five contracts to continue support for comprehensive substance abuse prevention, treatment, and

recovery support services for women, their minor children, and family members. SAMHSA

expects that these funds will support services to 950 women, 1,900 children, and 1,000 other 

family members.

197 
Strengthening Treatment Access and Retention (STAR)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/- 

FY 2015

Strengthening Treatment Access and Retention $1,664 $1,000 $1,000 $---

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities.......................................................................Domestic Public and Private Entities

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) joined with the Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation to substantially increase client access to and retention in substance abuse treatment

services through use of process improvement methods. This partnership has allowed SAMHSA

to work with numerous grantees to improve substance abuse treatment processes to affect

positive client outcomes. Activities have focused on streamlining client intake, assessment and

appointment scheduling procedures; eliminating paperwork duplication; extending clinic hours; 

contacting client no shows; eliciting customer feedback; and using clinical protocols (e.g.,

motivational interviewing and motivational incentives to engage clients during the initial phase 

of treatment). Based on STAR program successes, CSAT funded a follow-up effort through an

infrastructure initiative that promoted state-level implementation of process improvement 

methods to improve access to and retention in outpatient treatment.

Treatment organizations that implement business operations practices use evidence-based plan,

do, study, and act cycles (PDSA) as part of their improvement process. This includes collecting

data before, during, and following the changes that are implemented.

In FY 2013, SAMHSA funded two contracts to provide technical assistance to grantees to

promote service efficiency. In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded four contracts to sustain the 

operations of 15 provider business operations learning networks, involving an estimated 300 

provider organizations. These networks expanded training to include strategic business 

planning, third party contracting, and ensuring client eligibility and engagement in treatment.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support three contracts, one of which is the continuation of the 

provider business operations learning network contract.

198 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $1,671,834

FY 2013 $1,584,387

FY 2014 $1,664,000

FY 2015 $1,000,000

FY 2016 $1,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level for Strengthening

Treatment Access and Retention. Funding will support two contracts to continue to promote

state-level implementation of process improvement methods to improve access to and retention

in outpatient treatment.

199 
Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP)

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2016 FY 2016

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY 2014 FY 2015 President's +/- 

Final Enacted Budget FY 2015

RecoveryCommunityServicesProgram $2,434 $2,434 $2,434 $---

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities........................................................... Family/Consumer Controlled Organizations

Domestic Public and Private Non-Profit Organizations in States, Territories, and Tribes

Recovery Community Organizations of Domestic Private Non-Profit Entities in States

Territories, and Tribes

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative on Recovery Support focuses on health, home, purpose, and

community. The Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP) contributes to a better quality 

of life for people in recovery, including their families and communities. The RCSP program 

advances peer-to-peer recovery support services and has focused on a variety of underserved 

groups including women, African Americans, Latinos, rural populations, persons recently

released from incarceration, the homeless, adolescents, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and

transgender populations. In addition, RCSP serves family members and allies of individuals in

recovery. The primary population for RCSP includes individuals with substance use disorders

who are in, or are seeking, recovery. RCSP grants provide a wide range of services such as peer

coaching, peer support groups, life skills workshops, peer-led resource connector programs for

housing and employment, educational assistance, and recovery drop-in centers. These types of 

services offer social supports that help prevent relapse and promote sustained recovery from

mental and/or substance use disorders. FY 2013 data demonstrated positive outcomes, with

84 percent of clients served reporting being abstinent at follow-up, 68 percent reporting being 

employed, 63 percent reporting being housed, and 99 percent reporting not being involved in the 

criminal justice system.46

The RCSP and Targeted Capacity Expansion-Peer To Peer (TCE-PTP) grant programs design

and deliver peer recovery support services. Both programs use CSAT Government Performance

Results Act (GPRA) outcome data to evaluate relapse, social connectedness, housing,

employment/education, and criminal justice involvement. Additionally, these grant programs

use practice-based models of recovery coaching, and evidence-based practices of Wellness

Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) and other wellness models of Whole Health Action

Management (WHAM) as well as other evidence-based practices that support peer recovery

supports. Data are used to evaluate the usefulness of specific recovery practices within different

cultural contexts, and to identify program models that best address the needs of individuals in

46 Services Accountability Improvement System (SAIS); www.samhsa-gpra.samhsa.gov; 2013.

200 
recovery from addiction. The FY 2014 RCSP Statewide Network grant program built on

evaluations of previous cohorts to move forward on strengthening the capacity of community 

organizations to support addiction recovery through the building of statewide networks. 

In FY 2013, SAMHSA funded five grant continuations and supported two contracts. In FY 2014, 

SAMHSA funded five contracts, 10 new three-year grants, and nine three-year Statewide Peer

Networks for Recovery and Resiliency grants in collaboration with the Center for Mental Health

Services ($0.4 million in CSAT and $0.4 million in the CMHS) in support of the Recovery

Support Strategic Initiative. These funds are used to build capacity for statewide consumerrun, family member-run, or addiction recovery community organizations to promote

infrastructure development that is recovery-focused and resiliency oriented. To ensure a stronger 

policy voice across the behavioral health field and facilitate readiness for the implementation of 

health reform, SAMHSA awarded additional funding to build a collaborative partnership among

SAMHSA funded mental health and addictions peer-run state-wide networks and those that are

mental health family-run networks. This program is braided between the Mental Health

appropriation and the Substance Abuse Treatment appropriation to allow for collaborative

partnerships across the mental and substance use disorder fields. SAMHSA tracks any braided 

amounts spent or awarded under their distinct appropriations and ensures that funds are used for

purposes consistent with legislative direction and intent of the appropriations.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support the continuation of 10 grants, four contracts, and eight

new three-year Statewide Peer Network grants in collaboration with CMHS.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $2,445,369

FY 2013 $2,445,461

FY 2014 $2,434,000

FY 2015 $2,434,000

FY 2016 $2,434,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level for Recovery Community 

Services Program: Funding will support 10 continuation three-year grants, 8 new grants and

four contracts to continue to advance peer-to-peer recovery support services targeted toward a 

variety of underserved groups.

201 
Access to Recovery (ATR)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

FY 2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/- 

FY 2015

AccesstoRecovery $50,000 $38,223 $ --- -$38,223

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 50,000 --- --- ---

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities............................. States, Territories, District of Columbia, Federally Recognized

American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and Tribal Organizations

Program Description and Accomplishments

Access to Recovery is a grant program which promotes client choice and supports states/tribes in

developing expanded provider networks, including faith-based and secular providers, to provide 

comprehensive clinical substance abuse treatment and recovery support services. Since 2004, 

the ATR program has served over 650,000 clients through 75 grantees. The majority of services

provided are recovery support related and not reimbursable by insurance. Services include 

transportation, housing, and jobs support. 

ATR supplements and does not supplant other funding for substance abuse treatment services.

Outpatient clinical treatment services and residential services, typically covered by Medicaid and

marketplace plans, are for the most part not allowed under this program. Providers work with

clients to link them to other sources of coverage for treatment services where appropriate. Under 

ATR, states and tribes are required to establish provider networks and develop a voucher-based

mechanism to ensure client choice of treatment providers. The ATR grant funds support creating

linkages between clients and treatment providers through state health information exchanges that

ensure coordination and non-duplication of services and include both traditional and nontraditional providers, such as faith-based and peer providers. Performance data has found 

increased functioning of clients receiving services through ATR. In FY 2013, clients who were

employed or currently attending school improved from 30.3 percent at intake to 49.6 percent at

six-month follow-up; abstinence past 30-day alcohol and drug use improved from 68 percent at

intake to 83.5 percent at six-month follow-up; and those who reported stability in housing 

improved from 34.9 percent at intake to 45.6 percent at six-month follow-up.47

Beginning in FY 2014, the ATR program encouraged grantees to seek reimbursement from third

party payers to the extent possible for services covered by insurance, to focus on, the provision

of services unlikely to be covered by insurance such as supportive services, and direct services to

those who are ineligible for insurance or unable to acquire it. Performance data are compared

47 Services Accountability Improvement System (SAIS); www.samhsa-gpra.samhsa.gov; 2013.

202 
across time and between programs to identify high performing programs. Successful ATR

innovations are communicated and new evidence shared to strengthen capacity nationwide. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded six grants fully funded for the three-year project period of up to

$3.0 million each per year; these grants were multi-year funded with Prevention and Public 

Health Funds. In addition, FY 2014 funds supported one contract. In FY 2015, SAMHSA

intends to support six additional multi-year funded ATR grant awards, and one contract that

focuses on providing policy and practice analyses, as well as training and technical assistance, to

states, providers, and systems to increase the adoption and implementation of integrated, peerdriven, recovery supports, services, and systems for people with substance use disorders and

mental health problems.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $98,267,922

FY 2013 $93,127,920

FY 2014 $50,000,000

FY 2015 $38,223,000

FY 2016 ---

Budget Request

SAMHSA is proposing eliminating the Access to Recovery (ATR) program in FY 2016. Many

of the clinical services provided under ATR will now be covered by public and private insurance.

In addition, states are able to support recovery support services and client choice with Substance 

Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funding. Since 2004, ATR has served over 650,000 

clients through 75 grantees. SAMHSA has been able to identify successful substance abuse

treatment and recovery-oriented systems of care models and will continue to offer technical

assistance to states that would like to continue this activity.

203 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Access to Recovery

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

 

1 The target reduction reflects reduced funding level. Clients are supported through multi-year funding grants in FY

2014 and FY 2015, and this performance target is the result of previous year funding. 2

SAMHSA’s grant awards are made late in the fiscal year; therefore, performance targets and results for any given

fiscal year primarily reflect the output and outcomes associated with activities supported by funding from the prior

fiscal year. For example, these FY13 performance targets reflect FY 12 funding levels.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

 Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2014

Target

FY 2016

Target

FY 2016

Target

+/-

FY 2014

Target

1.2.32 Number of clients gaining

access to treatment(Output)

FY 2014: 63,870

Target:

50,000

(Target Exceeded)

50,000 8,0001 -42,000

1.2.33 Increase the percentage of

adults receiving services who had

no past month substance use

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 84.2%

Target: 81%2

(Target Exceeded)

81% 80% -1

1.2.35 Percentage of adults receiving

services who had no/reduced

involvement with the criminal justice

system (Outcome)

FY 2014: 97.2%

Target: 94%

(Target Exceeded)

94% 93% -1

1.2.36 Percentage of adults receiving

services who had improved social

support (Outcome)

FY 2014: 92.9%

Target: 89%

(Target Exceeded)

89% 88% -1

204 
Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCASI)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

PrimaryCare and AddictionServicesIntegration(PCASI) $--- $--- $20,000 +$20,000

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities...............Community Behavioral Health and Primary Care Service Organizations

Program Description

The Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCASI) seeks to improve the health of 

people with substance use disorders (SUD) though coordinated and integrated primary care

services. Through PCASI, integrated teams of professionals will be able to provide needed

primary care services to individuals seeking care for a SUD. Provision of coordinated and

integrated services improves the physical health status of adults with substance use disorders 

who have or are at risk for co-occurring primary care conditions and chronic diseases, with the 

objective of improving the health of those with SUD, enhancing the client’s experience of care

(including quality, access, and reliability), and reducing/controlling the per capita cost of care.

Individuals with SUD are at risk for co-occurring health conditions. Several cardiovascular

complications such as heart attack, heart failure and stroke are closely related to cocaine use.

Alcohol use is a major risk factor for many conditions including chronic hypertension, obesity 

and diabetes. In addition, individuals with other chronic health issues may develop substance

abuse problems due to self-medication. Not only do people with SUD experience health

disparities in morbidity and mortality, Medicare and Medicaid cost data tell us that for people 

with multiple chronic conditions, costs are exponentially higher when one of those conditions is

a SUD. Currently, a significant component of the overall higher cost of care for those with SUD

is untreated chronic disease.48 Partnerships between primary care and behavioral health

organizations, as well as information technology entities, are crucial to the success of this

program.

The goal of this Program is to improve the health of people with substance use disorders though 

coordinated and integrated primary care services in community substance abuse treatment

settings. Through PCASI, integrated teams of professionals will be able to provide needed

primary care services to individuals seeking care for a Substance Use Disorder (SUD), with the 

objective of improving health outcomes, enhancing the experience of care, and reducing the cost

of care by controlling physical healthcare costs. SAMHSA expects that PCASI will complement 

the successful PBHCI grant program by promoting integrated services for individuals with SUDs

and using lessons learned from PBHCI.

48 Barnett, P.G. (2009). Comparison of costs and utilization among buprenorphine and methadone patients.

Addiction, 104, 982-992.

205 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $20,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 request includes $20.0 million for PCASI, a $20.0 million increase over the FY 

2015 Enacted Level to provide grants to behavioral health and primary care providers to

integrate substance abuse treatment services and primary care. Individuals with substance use 

disorders are at risk for co-occurring health conditions. Several cardiovascular complications

such as heart attack, heart failure, and stroke are closely related to cocaine use. Alcohol use is a 

major risk factor for many conditions including chronic hypertension, obesity and diabetes. In

addition, individuals with other chronic health issues may develop substance abuse problems due

to self-medication. Not only do people with substance use disorders experience health disparities

in morbidity and mortality, Medicare and Medicaid cost data tell us that for people with multiple

chronic conditions, costs are exponentially higher when one of those conditions is a substance

use disorder.49, 50 The goal of this program is to improve the health of people with substance use 

disorders though coordinated and integrated primary care services in community substance abuse 

treatment settings. Through PCASI, integrated teams of professionals will be able to provide 

needed primary care services to individuals seeking care for a substance use disorder (SUD),

with the objective of improving health outcomes, enhancing the experience of care, and reducing 

the cost of care by controlling physical healthcare costs. SAMHSA expects that PCASI will

complement the successful Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) grant

program by promoting integrated services for individuals with SUDs and using lessons learned

from PBHCI.

This funding will support a total of 21 grants to behavioral health and primary care providers of 

approximately $0.5 million annually for up to three years. Funding will also be used to award an

HIV continuum of care grant award. In addition, SAMHSA will award a contract to support 

technical assistance and evaluation activities which will assess the clinical and cost effectiveness

of these programs and other programs in the field, grantee ensure fidelity to program

implementation, and to assist with documentation and dissemination of lessons learned from the 

program.

49 Druss, B. g., & Rosenheck. R. A. (1999). Patterns of health care costs associated with depression and substance

abuse in a national sample. Psychiatric Services, 50, 214-218

50 Kathol, R. G., McAlpine, D., Kishi, Y., Speies, R., Meller, W., Bernhardt, T., et al. (2005). General medical and

pharmacy claims expenditures in users of behavioral health services. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 20, 160- 

167.

206 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCASI)

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.2.52 Number of persons served (Output) FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2016

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

1.2.53 Percentage of clients receiving services

who had no past month substance use

(Outcome)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2016

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

1.2.54 Percentage of clients receiving services

who were currently employed or engaged in

productive activities (Outcome)

FY 2015: Result Expected

Dec 31, 2016

Target: Set Baseline

(Pending)

207 
Children and Family Programs

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

ChildrenandFamilies $29,605 $29,605 $29,605 $---

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 514 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities................... Single State Agencies in States, Territories, and District of Columbia 

Federally Recognized American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and Tribal Organizations 

Program Description and Accomplishments

In support of SAMHSA’s Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiatives, adolescent and transitionaged youth treatment programs are designed to address the gaps in substance abuse treatment

services by providing services to young people and their families/primary caregivers using 

effective family-centered practices.

In FY 2012, SAMHSA supported Cooperative Agreements for State Adolescent Treatment

Enhancement and Dissemination (SAT-ED) and in FY 2013 supported Cooperative Agreements

for State Adolescent and Transitional-Aged Youth Treatment Enhancement and Dissemination

(SYT) based on lessons learned from SAT-ED. The purpose of these programs is to further the

use of, and access to, effective family-centered treatment approaches through state-wide training

while supporting connections between locally based treatment systems and their state, tribal, or 

territorial infrastructure. The services provided under these programs include evidence-based

assessment and treatment interventions. The target populations for SAT-ED are adolescents ages

12 through 17 and their families/caregivers. The target populations for SYT include adolescents

that are ages 12 through 17, transition-aged youth 18 through 25, and their respective

families/caregivers. Approximately 2,500 individuals were served as a result of these programs,

with approximately 56 percent of clients reporting being abstinent from substance abuse and

80 percent employed or engaged in productive activities.

In addition to the state-based treatment award programs, SAMHSA collaborates with the 

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through an inter-agency agreement to fund a 

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (National Center). Activities of this

National Center include providing in-depth technical assistance to states, forging more extensive 

partnerships with family drug courts, and promoting work with tribes. The ACF grantees are

able to draw upon SAMHSA technical assistance provided to the child welfare and substance 

abuse treatment fields, including grants awarded under an ACF grant program referred to as

Regional Partnership grants.

In FY 2013, the adolescent portfolio supported six contracts that provide SAMHSA grantees

technical help with the implementation and operation of grant projects. In FY 2014, SAMHSA

funded 23 four-year grant continuations (13 SAT-ED grant continuations, and 10 SYT awards),

one new award, and 12 contracts that advance the application of state-of-the-art knowledge 

208 
around substance use and mental health needs for women and families, as well as foster the 

growth of emerging leaders in the women and family substance use and mental health treatment

field. In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support continuation of 11 SYT grants and six contracts,

12 new two-year SYT planning grants, and 12 new three-year SYT implementation grants so as

to facilitate infrastructure development in those states in need of enhancement and to provide

funding for those states ready to expand services.

The new evaluation will assess the effectiveness of these programs, document best practices and

lessons learned, disseminate these lessons learned and guide programmatic and policy changes.

The evaluation will utilize data from the biannual reports, GPRA performance reports, local

evaluations, and other qualitative or quantitative information, as deemed necessary.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $30,620,019

FY 2013 $29,018,408

FY 2014 $29,605,000

FY 2015 $29,605,000

FY 2016 $29,605,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level for Children

and Families. Funding will support 35 grant continuations (11 for SYT, 12 for SYT planning, 

and 12 for SYT Implementation) and six contracts. These efforts will continue to address the 

gaps in substance abuse treatment by providing services to young people and their

families/primary caregivers using proven effective family-centered practices.

209 
Treatment Systems for Homelessness

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Treatment Systems for Homeless $41,386 $41,386 $41,386 $---

Authorizing Legislation ............................... Section 506 and 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities..................... Domestic Community-Based Public and Private Non-Profit Entities

State Mental Health Authorities, Single State Authorities for Substance Abuse in Partnership

with Domestic Public and Private Non-Profit Entities

Program Description and Accomplishments

CSAT’s Treatment Systems for Homelessness portfolio supports services, including short-term

residential treatment and medication-assisted treatment, to those with substance use disorders or 

co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. These activities target the chronic 

homelessness and homeless veterans.

Stable permanent housing linked with behavioral health services is critical for achieving and

maintaining recovery from substance use and mental disorders. SAMHSA and the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facilitate these links in a variety of 

ways. The primary objective of HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC), HUD’s program is to

increase housing stability for the homeless through mechanisms such as rental assistance;

construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of transitional and permanent housing; operating 

costs; and the provision of some supportive services. CoC funds may not be used for entities that

only provide housing services-only. Entities who receive HUD CoC funds are eligible to apply 

for SAMHSA funding. Playing a complementary role to HUD’s activities, SAMHSA/CSAT

homelessness programs do not fund housing, but support an array of integrated behavioral health

treatment and recovery-oriented services and supports, including outreach, engagement,

intensive case management, treatment for mental and/or substance use disorders, enrollment in

mainstream benefits (Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, SNAP, etc.), and employment readiness services.

SAMHSA’s targeted homelessness programs are a component of SAMHSA’s Recovery Support 

Strategic Initiative. One of the goals of the Strategic Initiative is to ensure that supportive 

services are available for individuals with mental and substance use disorders. SAMHSA/CSAT

manages four Treatment Systems for Homelessness grant programs: 

• Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI)-General are designed to expand

and strengthen treatment services for persons experiencing homelessness (including those

who experience chronic homelessness) with substance use and mental disorder or cooccurring substance use and mental disorders. The primary goal is to link treatment

services with housing programs and other services (example primary care).

210 
• GBHI-Services in Supportive Housing (GBHI-SSH) seek to use a permanent supportive

housing approach to expand and strengthen substance use treatment or co-occurring

substance use and mental disorders treatment services for individuals who experience

chronic homelessness and veterans who experience homelessness.

• The Cooperative Agreements to Benefit Homeless Individuals (CABHI) program,

initiated in 2011, is a jointly funded program between SAMHSA’s Center for Mental

Health Services (CMHS) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and

supports treatment and the development and/or expansion of local systems. This includes

integration of treatment and other critical services for individuals with mental and

substance use disorders; coordination at the local level with state or local Public Housing

Authorities; local mental health, substance abuse, and primary care provider

organizations; the local CoC; the state Medicaid Office; and the state Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Authorities. As of FY 2013, 42 funded grants served 1,939 people with

evidence of reduced experiences of depression and anxiety (62.5 percent and 66.2 percent

respectively). Data show that between intake and six-month follow up abstinence from

substance use increased by six percent, injection drug use decreased by 22 percent, and

stability in housing increased by 49.8 percent.51

• The CABHI-States program, jointly funded with CMHS and using a permanent

supportive housing approach, built on the CABHI program to provide accessible,

effective, comprehensive, coordinated/integrated, and evidenced-based treatment

services; peer supports; and enhancement or development of a statewide plan to ensure

sustained partnerships across public health and housing systems that will result in shortand long-term strategies to support behavioral health services for individuals who

experience homelessness.

Overall, in FY 2014 SAMHSA funded approximately $21.0 million in CABHI State cooperative 

agreements for work with state and local Public Housing Authorities and state Medicaid agencies

to develop systematic, cost-effective, and integrated approaches to housing and behavioral health

treatment and services for individuals with mental and/or substance use disorders experiencing 

chronic homelessness. The US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), in which HHS

participates, has set aggressive goals to permanently house and address the needs of those who

are chronically homeless and/or who are veterans and homeless. Therefore, the purpose of this

jointly funded SAMHSA program is to enhance or develop the infrastructure and capacity of 

states and their treatment services systems to house and provide needed treatment and support 

services for individuals with mental and/or substance use disorders who are chronically homeless 

or who are veterans experiencing homelessness. SAMHSA seeks to increase the number of

program-enrolled individuals who live in permanent housing that supports recovery through 

combining housing assistance with comprehensive treatment and recovery-oriented services for

behavioral health issues.

51 Services Accountability Improvement System (SAIS); www.samhsa-gpra.samhsa.gov; 2013.

211 
An estimated 62 percent of clients report abstinence from substance use at a six-month follow 

up, while approximately 31 percent of clients report being employed or engaged in productive 

activities and 48.4 percent of clients report having a permanent place to live in the community.52

In 2011, a five-year contract, Evaluation of Programs to Provide Services to Persons Who Are

Homeless with Mental Illnesses and/or Substance Use Disorders, was initiated to evaluate

SAMHSA’s programs for providing services to persons who are homeless and have mental

and/or substance use disorders, including the GBHI-SSH and CABHI. This evaluation contract

consolidated existing CSAT-CMHS program evaluations (SSH, GBHI) and added the new

CABHI program. A central feature of this consolidated evaluation is to identify commonalities

across the programs that may be used to compare effectiveness of the programs and of the 

various models of service delivery, including evidence-based practices, used within and across

programs. The first new cohort of CABHI grants was added to the original number of grants

included at award of the evaluation contract. However, subsequent grantees, such as the CABHI

States cooperative agreements, could not be subsumed under this evaluation. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded approximately $10.2 million for 26 new three-year GBHI-SSH

grants to domestic public or private nonprofit entities. The FY 2014 CABHI-States funding 

supported 18 new three-year grants of approximately $9.7 million to community-basic public or 

nonprofit entities. In FY 2014, SAMHSA supported a total of 34 grant continuations and five

contracts. There were 11 CABHI-States grant continuations and 23 GBHI grant continuations. 

In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support $42.0 million in new three-year programming for

individuals with substance use disorders, SMI, or co-occurring mental and substance use 

disorders who are experiencing chronic homelessness (CSAT, $21.0 million; CMHS,

$21.0 million). This includes funding for 26 new grants to build upon lessons learned from the 

CABHI programs and 10 continuation grants. SAMHSA also plans to fund up to seven new

five-year GBHI-SSH grants and 26 GBHI-SSH five-year continuation grants. Additional funds 

will be used to support four contracts that include a national evaluation and technical assistance.

52 Services Accountability Improvement System (SAIS); www.samhsa-gpra.samhsa.gov; 2013.

212 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $41,571,281

FY 2013 $39,396,852

FY 2014 $41,386,000

FY 2015 $41,386,000

FY 2016 $41,386,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level for Treatment Systems

for Homelessness. Funding will support 60 annual grant continuations (27 CABHI-States

continuation grants, 33 GBHI five-year continuation grants), nine new three-year grants, and

three contracts. These programs will allow SAMHSA to continue to support an array of integrated

behavioral health, treatment, housing support, and recovery-oriented services and supports, 

including outreach, engagement, intensive case management, treatment for mental and/or

substance use disorders, enrollment in mainstream benefits, employment readiness, and linkage 

to permanent housing. 

213 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Treatment System for Homelessness (GBHI)

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

3.4.22 Percentage of clients receiving

services who had no past month

substance use (Outcome)

FY 2014: 64.9 %

Target: 66.4 % 

(Target Not Met but

Improved)

66.4 % 66.4 % Maintain

3.4.23 Number of clients served (Output) FY 2014: 3,963

Target:

5,800

(Target Not Met)

5,800 5,800 Maintain

3.4.24 Increase the percentage of

homeless clients receiving services who

were currently employed or engaged in

productive activities(Outcome)

FY 2014: 31.7 %

Target: 31.7 % 

(Target Met)

31.7 % 31.7 % Maintain

3.4.25 Increase the percentage of clients

receiving services who had a permanent

place to live in the community

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 45.3 %

Target: 24.6 % 

(Target Exceeded)

33 % 33 % Maintain

214 
Minority AIDS

(Dollars in thousands)

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities.................................................... Domestic Public and Private Non-Profit Entities

Program Description and Accomplishments

The purpose of the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) grants is to facilitate the development and

expansion of culturally competent and effective community-based treatment systems for

substance use and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders within racial and ethnic

minority communities. The goals of the program are to reduce the impact of behavioral health

problems, reduce HIV risk and incidence, and increase access to treatment for individuals with

co-existing behavioral health, HIV, and Hepatitis conditions. SAMSA supports the following 

four Minority AIDS programs:

• The FY 2012 Targeted Capacity Expansion Program: Substance Abuse Treatment for

Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations at High-Risk for HIV/AIDS (TCE-HIV). The

purpose of this program is to facilitate the development and expansion of culturally

competent and effective community-based treatment systems for substance use and cooccurring substance use and mental disorders within racial and ethnic minority

communities in States with the highest HIV prevalence rates (at or above 270 per 100,000).

The populations of focus include young men who have sex with men (YMSM; ages 18-

29), adult heterosexual women and men; and men who have sex with men (MSM;

ages 30 and older). SAMHSA funded the continuation of 52 TCE-HIV grant

continuations and supported contracts for evaluation and technical assistance (e.g., client

recruitment and retention, training on and implementation of evidence-based practices

[EBPs], sustainability) to these grantees in FY 2013, FY 2014 and FY 2015. In FY 2016

SAMHSA will fund 52 grant continuations and support contracts for evaluation and

technical assistance.

• The FY 2013 Targeted Capacity Expansion: Substance Abuse Treatment for

Racial/Ethnic Minority Women at High Risk for HIV/AIDS (TCE-HIV: Minority

Women). The purpose of this program is to expand substance abuse treatment and HIV

services for high-risk populations, including, African American, Hispanic/Latina and

other racial/ethnic minority women (ages 18 years and older), previously incarcerated

women, and their significant others, who have substance use or co-occurring substance

use and mental disorders and are living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. SAMHSA funded

35 TCE-HIV: Minority Women grant continuations and supported contracts for

evaluation and technical assistance for these grantees in FY 2013. SAMHSA funded 35

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

MinorityAIDS $65,570 $65,570 $58,859 -$6,711

215 
TCE-HIV: Minority Women grant continuations and five new TCE-HIV: Minority 

Women off-the-shelf grants and supported contracts for evaluation and technical

assistance for all TCE-HIV: Minority Women grantees in FY 2014. SAMHSA funded 40

TCE-HIV: Minority Women grant three-year continuations and supported contracts for

evaluation and technical assistance for these grantees in FY 2015. SAMHSA will fund 

40 TCE-HIV: Minority Women three-year grant continuations and support contracts for

evaluation and technical assistance to these grantees in FY 2016. 

There are currently two braided MAI programs jointly funded by Center for Mental Health

Services (CMHS), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and Center for Substance 

Abuse Treatment (CSAT) by the MAI:

• The FY 2011 Minority AIDS Initiative Targeted Capacity Expansion: Integrated

Behavioral Health/Primary Care Network Cooperative Agreements (MAI-TCE). The

purpose of this program is to facilitate the development and expansion of culturally

competent and effective integrated behavioral health and primary care networks, which

include HIV services and medical treatment, within racial and ethnic minority

communities in the 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and Metropolitan Divisions

(MDs) most impacted by HIV/AIDS. SAMHSA funded 11 MAI-TCE grant continuations

and supported contracts for evaluation and technical assistance for these grantees in FY

2012, FY 2013 and FY2014.

• The FY 2014 Minority AIDS Initiative Continuum of Care Pilot - Integration of HIV

Prevention and Medical Care into Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment

Programs for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations at High Risk for Behavioral Health

Disorders and HIV (MAI CoC Pilot: Integration of HIV Medical Care into BH Programs

or “CoC”). The purpose of this jointly funded program is to integrate care (mental and

substance use disorder treatment, substance abuse prevention, and HIV medical care

services) for racial/ethnic minority populations at high risk for behavioral health

disorders and high risk for or living with HIV. The grant will fund programs that provide

coordinated and integrated services through the co-location of behavioral health treatment

and HIV medical care. There is significant co-morbidity of viral hepatitis with HIV

infection; additionally, viral hepatitis occurs in up to 20 percent of those with either

substance use disorders or serious mental illness. In order to address this, five percent of

the allocated funds will be used to provide services to prevent, screen, test and refer to

treatment as clinically appropriate those at risk for or living with viral hepatitis.

SAMHSA awarded 34 awards and supported two contracts for evaluation and technical

assistance to these grantees in FY 2014. SAMHSA will fund 35 CoC grant continuations

and two supporting contracts for evaluation and technical assistance to these grantees in

FY 2015 and FY 2016.

SAMHSA supports an HIV Consolidated Evaluation. The primary purpose is to conduct a 

comprehensive process and outcome evaluation of all SAMHSA HIV Programs to address the 

degree to which SAMHSA is providing effective and efficient mental and substance use disorder 

services to those living with HIV through its funded HIV grant efforts. The evaluation results

216 
will be used to inform program development and refine the approach used in SAMHSA’s HIV

portfolio. 

Technical assistance for these programs is executed primarily through a contract which focuses

on: fostering the development and expansion of culturally competent, effective and integrated

substance abuse prevention, mental and substance use disorder treatment and primary care

networks and services for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $65,863,283

FY 2013 $61,918,238

FY 2014 $65,570,000

FY 2015 $65,570,000

FY 2016 $58,859,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $58.9 million, a decrease of $6.7 million from the FY 2015 Enacted

Level. The funding decrease reflects a realignment between CSAT and CMHS Minority AIDS

activities. Total Minority AIDS funds across SAMHSA are equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level.

This funding level will provide substance abuse treatment services, and provide literature and

other materials to support behavior change, perform HIV/AIDS testing and counseling 

services and facilitate linkage to other medical and social services in local communities to

racial/ethnic minority populations with substance use disorders and at high risk for HIV or living

with HIV. SAMHSA will administer the braided MAI-Continuum of Care Program which will

provide fully integrated medical care and mental and substance use disorder treatment to those 

living with HIV.

217 
Criminal Justice Activities

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

CriminalJustice Activities $74,816 $78,000 $61,946 -$16,054

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities............................... Domestic Public and Private Non-Profit Entities, Operational 

Individual Misdemeanor and Felony Adult Criminal Courts, Municipal Courts, Tribal, State,

Local Government Proxies and Government with Direct Involvement with Adult Criminal

Courts, Tribal Organizations and Individual Adult Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts, 

Individual Juvenile Treatment Drug Courts 

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA’s Criminal Justice portfolio includes several grant programs which focus on diversion,

alternatives to incarceration, drug courts, and re-entry from incarceration for adolescents and

adults with substance use disorders, and/or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. 

These activities comport directly with SAMHSA’s Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiative efforts.

Drug Courts

Drug courts are designed to combine the sanctioning power of courts with effective treatment

services for a range of populations with problems such as alcohol and/or drug use, child

abuse/neglect or criminal behavior, mental illness, and veterans’ issues. SAMHSA’s adult drug 

court programs supports a variety of services, including direct treatment services for diverse 

populations at risk; wraparound/recovery support services designed to improve access and

retention; drug testing for illicit substances required for supervision, treatment compliance, and

therapeutic intervention; education support; relapse prevention and long-term management;

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT); and HIV testing conducted in accordance with state and

local requirements.

The SAMHSA Drug Court grant programs use existing evidence from numerous studies to

support current programs and new proposals. There have been more than 125 evaluation and

research studies of the effectiveness of drug courts and several micro-analyses in addition to

Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports. SAMHSA’s requests for applications (RFAs)

require evidence-based practices to be used from federal inventories of such practices, including 

the agency’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs. SAMHSA also has regular

communications with the National Association of Drug Court Professionals to obtain and

incorporate the latest findings and field expertise.

Performance data shows that SAMSA Drug Court grant programs are effective in improving the 

lives of dug court participants. In FY 2013, drug court participants who were employed or 

218 
currently attending school improved from 31.4 percent at intake to 47.4 percent at six-month 

follow-up; abstinence past 30-day alcohol and drug use improved from 72. percent at intake to

85.4 percent at six-month follow-up; social connectedness improved from 92.1 percent at intake

to 95.1 percent at six-month follow-up, those who had no past 30-day arrest increased from

89 percent at intake to 92.2 percent at follow-up. Those who reported stability in housing also

increased from 28 percent at intake to 40.7 percent at six-month follow-up.

In FY 2013, SAMHSA funded the continuation of 78 three-year drug court grants, 39 new threeyear drug court grants, and four contracts which provide the mechanism by which SAMHSA

grantees may obtain professional technical help with implementation and operation of most 

aspects of grant work. In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded 85 three-year and 7 four-year drug court 

grant continuations, 47 new three-year and 17 new four-year drug court grants, including five

contracts that provides the mechanism by which SAMHSA grantees may obtain professional 

technical help with implementation and operation of most aspects of grant work. SAMHSA’s

treatment drug court grant programs focused on Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts, Juvenile 

Treatment Drug Courts, and SAMHSA’s collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance at

the Department of Justice. In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support the continuation of 103 

drug court grants, four contracts, 35 new adult and family drug court grants and 10 new BJA

jointly funded drug court grants.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA will also conduct a performance evaluation of the FY 2015 Family

Treatment Drug Court (FTDCC) grant program. The purpose of this evaluation is to measure the

performance of each FY 2015 FTDC grantee, including assessing the progress of children,

parents and family functioning after receiving SAMHSA funding. 

Offender Reentry Program

In addition to the drug court portfolio, criminal justice funds also support Offender Reentry

Program (ORP) grants, which provide screening, assessment, comprehensive treatment, and

recovery support services to offenders reentering the community, as well as offenders who are

currently on or being released from probation or parole. Funding for ORP may be used for a 

variety of services, including screening, comprehensive individual assessment for substance use 

and/or co-occurring mental disorders, case management; program management, referrals related

to substance abuse treatment for clients, alcohol and drug treatment, wraparound services,

addressing the treatment-specific needs of clients during or following a substance abuse 

treatment episode, individualized services planning; drug testing, and relapse prevention and

long-term management support. 

In FY 2013, SAMHSA funded 39 three-year ORP grant continuations, 16 new three-year ORP

grants, and six evaluation and behavioral health contracts. In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded 39 

three-year ORP continuation grants, 17 new three-year ORP grants and four contracts. In FY 

2015, SAMHSA intends to support 30 three-year ORP grant continuations, three contracts, and

up to 18 new ORP grants which will have a particular emphasis on opioid overdose prevention. 

Behavioral Health Treatment Court Collaborative Program

In FY 2011, SAMHSA awarded grants to develop and expand the Behavioral Health Treatment

Court Collaborative (BHTCC). The purpose of the BHTCC is to provide state and local criminal

219 
and dependency courts serving adults with more flexibility to collaborate with the other judicial

components and local community treatment and recovery providers to address the behavioral 

health needs of adults who are involved with the criminal justice system. In FY 2014, SAMHSA

supported a second cohort, modified to require the inclusion of municipal courts as key 

components of the programs. In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support the continuation of these

grants.

An evaluation of the first cohort of BHTCC grantees was completed in September 2014. 

Grantees built multi-agency workgroups or collaboratives to oversee programs. All grantees

expanded access to specialty courts as a result of the grant. Most grants anticipated that new

screening and assessment processes addressing a broader array of behavioral health needs would 

continue after grant funding ended. Program innovations were divided into four main groups,

including court and treatment collaboration, court and community collaboration, unified crosscourt screening and referral, and meaningful peer involvement. Over 1,400 persons were served

through the BHTCC, many of them with co-occurring disorders and with significant trauma

exposure in their lives. Based on self-report data, program participants generally experienced

improvements in mental health and reductions in substance use.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA will provide support for continuation grants in the BHTCC program, and

there is a new evaluation of the BHTCC program beginning in FY 2015. The new BHTCC

evaluation will focus on examining the clinical and functional outcomes of program participants

with behavioral health disorders. The intent of the FY 2015 evaluation is to build off of the 

findings from the first cohort and to examine both the features of successful collaborations 

between the courts and community services as well as the clinical and functional outcomes of 

program participants with behavioral health disorders. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $66,903,205

FY 2013 $63,558,000

FY 2014 $74,816,000

FY 2015 $78,000,000

FY 2016 $61,946,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $61.9 million, a decrease of $16.1 million from the FY 2015

Enacted Level. This reduction will not result in the termination of any grants. As a result of

multi-year funding of FY 2014 grants, these funds will still provide sufficient support to existing

sites/programs at each of the current grantees receiving continuations, as well as new grants in

the Drug Court and ORP programs. SAMHSA plans to support 136 grant continuations consisting

of 109 Drug Court and 27 ORP grant continuations, Ex-Offender Reentry grants, five contract

continuations, approximately 41 new Drug Court grants, and two new contracts. These programs

will continue to provide comprehensive treatment and recovery support services for adolescents

and adults with substance use disorders coming into contact with the criminal justice

220 
system as well as offenders re-entering the community. SAMHSA proposes to focus this portfolio

more strategically to explore new approaches and a variety of models within the drug court

umbrella rather than using a significant portion of SAMHSA’s limited funding to support what

is already a robust system.

221 
Outputs and Outcomes Tables

Program: Criminal Justice - Drug Courts

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.2.72 Percentage of adult clients receiving

services who were currently employed or

engaged in productive activities(Outcome)

FY 2014: 59.8%

Target: 55%

(Target Exceeded)

55% 55% Maintain

1.2.73 Percentage of adult clients receiving

services who had a permanent place to live in the

community (Outcome)

FY 2014: 42.2%

Target: 41%

(Target Exceeded)

41% 41% Maintain

1.2.74 Percentage of adult clients receiving

services who had no involvement with the

criminal justice system(Outcome)

FY 2014: 91.2%

Target: 91%

(Target Exceeded)

91% 91% Maintain

1.2.76 Percentage of adult clients receiving

services who had no past month substance use

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 85.6%

Target: 71%

(Target Exceeded)

71% 71% Maintain

1.2.79 Number of adult clients served (Output) FY 2013: 7,064

Target: 5,265

(Target Exceeded)

6460 6460 Maintain

222 
Program: Criminal Justice - Ex-Offender Re-Entry Program

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1, 2 Decrease in target from prior year level reflects changes in funding and data trends.

Measure

Year and Most Recent 

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.2.80 Number of clients served (Outcome) FY 2014: 2,232

Target: 2,912

(Target Not Met)

2,500 2,3001 -200

1.2.81 Percentage of clients who had no

past month substance use (Outcome)

FY 2014: 79.1%

Target: 80%

(Target Not Met but Improved)

74% 73%2 -1

1.2.84 Percentage of clients receiving

services who had no involvement with

the criminal justice system (Outcome)

FY 2014: 93.8 %

Target:

94.9 % 

(Target Not Met)

94 % 94 % Maintain

223 
Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

AddictionTechnologyTransferCenters $9,024 $9,046 $8,081 -$965

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities.................................................... Domestic Public and Private Non-Profit Entities

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTC) network supports national and regional

activities that decrease the gap in time between the release of new scientific findings and

evidence-based practices, and the implementation of these interventions by front-line clinicians.

ATTCs disseminate evidence-based, promising practices to addiction treatment/recovery

professionals, public health/mental health personnel, institutional and community corrections

professionals, and other related disciplines. The ATTC program dissemination models include 

technical assistance, training events, a growing catalog of educational and training materials, and

an extensive array of web-based resources created to translate the latest science for adoption into

practice by the substance use disorders treatment workforce. Ten ATTC grants support programs

in each of the 10 HHS regions to provide technical assistance, workforce training, and

development with other HHS Operating Divisions, such as Health Resources and Services

Administration (HRSA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Administration for

Children and Families (ACF), and the SAMHSA Regional Administrators. Five awards support 

one national and four focus area ATTCs. Data show 36,391 people were trained in FY 2013. 

Overall, approximately 90 percent of participants report implementing improvements in

treatment methods on the basis of information and training provided by the program with 

roughly 20,516 clients served.53

In FY 2014 SAMHSA funded the continuation of all 15 five-year ATTC grants and will continue 

that support in FY 2015. Approximately 20,516 individuals will be trained through this program. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA also supplemented a current ATTC grantee to develop a Center of

Excellence (CoE) to help decrease the rate of substance abuse and new HIV infections among

racial/ethnic Young Men who have Sex with Men (YMSM) (ages 18-29). The primary function 

of this ATTC-CoE is to serve this population as well as expand/develop efforts focusing on the

Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender populations in general.

In FY 2015, one ATTC will receive supplemental funding to develop a Center of Excellence to

strengthen the behavioral health workforce that provides addictions treatment and recovery

support services to Pregnant and Postpartum Women (PPW), their children and their families.

53 Services Accountability Improvement System (SAIS); www.samhsa-gpra.samhsa.gov; 2013.

224 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $9,063,837

FY 2013 $9,008,366

FY 2014 $9,024,000

FY 2015 $9,046,000

FY 2016 $8,081,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes $8.1 million, a decrease of $1.0 million from the FY 2015

Enacted Level. Funding will support grant continuations to continue to disseminate evidencebased, promising practices to addiction treatment/recovery professionals, public health/mental

health personnel, institutional and community corrections professionals, and other related

disciplines. With the ongoing success of the ATTC program, the Budget redirects resources to

other substance abuse treatment activities such as technical assistance specific to heroin and

prescription drug abuse treatment.

Crisis Systems: Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE)

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Crisis Systems $--- $--- $5,000 +$5,000

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method .............................................................................Competitive Grants/Contracts

Eligible Entities...........................................................................................States and Communities

Program Description and Accomplishments

Behavioral health crises are critical times for intervention and treatment and key times to engage

individuals in on-going treatment and recovery. Such crises often cause great disruption for

individuals and those around them, including family members, teachers, law enforcement, and

employers. Well-managed crisis interventions can result in positive outcomes for the individual, 

family, and community, including increased understanding of mental and SUD, while poorly 

managed crisis situations can result in frustration, increased health and social services system

costs, and negative outcomes for all involved, including potential harm to the individual 

experiencing the crisis or others. 

225 
Comprehensive crisis systems can be challenging to conceive and fund as often there are multiple

systems that need to be coordinated, such as emergency response systems such as 911 lines;

first responders including police and EMT; emergency room and primary health care; court

system; multiple payers; social service providers; and behavioral health providers. 

Comprehensive crisis systems also have to be designed, funded and staffed to address and

manage a range of crisis situations, including various presenting conditions, ages, family

situations, and locations. While models of comprehensive crisis delivery systems have been

developed and are operating successfully, these comprehensive systems are the exception. More

commonly, law enforcement and emergency room personnel respond to public safety and health

situations without the benefit of the range of services and support needed to successfully prevent,

manage, and follow up on behavioral health crises. Inadequate crisis delivery systems can result

in harm to the individual in crisis, law enforcement, or others; unnecessary use of scarce and

costly emergency room and inpatient settings; and inappropriate use of jails and criminal justice

resources.

The program will seek to increase the engagement with and the functioning of individuals in

crisis, increased support for families and caregivers, decreased use of emergency room and

inpatient care, and increased understanding by the community of those who experience a 

behavioral health crisis.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $5,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $10.0 million, including $5.0 million in the Mental Health

appropriation and $5.0 million in the Substance Abuse Treatment appropriation, for a new braided 

program line entitled Crisis Systems. This represents an increase of $10.0 million from the FY 

2015 Enacted Level. Funding supports the Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE),

a demonstration activity to help communities build, fund, and sustain crisis systems capable of

preventing and deescalating behavioral health crises as well as connecting individuals and families

with needed post-crisis services. In many incidences, responses to these situations by emergency

medical responders and other behavioral health care providers are under- coordinated and unsustained. These grants will help mitigate the demand for inpatient beds by those with serious

mental illnesses and substance use disorders by coordinating effective crisis response with

ongoing outpatient services and supports. As a braided activity, SAMHSA will track separately

any amounts spent or awarded under Crisis Systems through its distinct appropriation and ensure

that funds are used for purposes consistent with legislative direction and intent of that 

appropriation. 

226 
Special Initiatives/Outreach

(Dollars in thousands)

Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY 2015

Special Initiatives/Outreach $1,432 $1,432 $1,432 $---

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities.......................................................... Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Program Description and Accomplishments

Special Initiatives/Outreach supports a grant program for the Historically Black Colleges and

Universities (HBCU) Center for Excellence (CFE), an innovative national resource center

dedicated to continuing the effort to network the 105 HBCUs throughout the United States. The

HBCU-CFE promotes workforce development through expanding knowledge of best practices

and leadership development that enhance the participation of African-Americans in the mental

and substance use disorder professions. The Center also supports a policy academy that focuses

on workforce and leadership development, cross-systems collaboration, cultural competence, and

eliminating disparities. The Center collaborates with other HHS agencies, including the HHS

Office of Minority Health (OMH).

Through this program, approximately 31 Substance Abuse Treatment Workforce Development

pilots were funded to provide opportunities for students to obtain practical experience in the 

addictions field. This program has increased the number of students interning in behavioral 

health and has established or increased HBCU partnerships with local, regional, and state

behavioral health partners, primarily in substance abuse treatment, committed to increasing

diversity in the addictions field.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA funded one new HBCU grant and five contracts including Project

Leadership Initiatives for Tomorrow (Project LIFT) that focuses on addressing the policy and

leadership needs of the changing healthcare landscape. In FY 2015, SAMHSA intends to support 

the continuation of one HBCU grant and three contracts including Project LIFT.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $2,266,708

FY 2013 $1,991,588

FY 2014 $1,432,000

FY 2015 $1,432,000

FY 2016 $1,432,000

227 
Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level for Special

Initiatives/Outreach. Funding will support one grant continuation and two contracts including 

Project LIFT to continue to network the 105 HBCU’s and promote workforce development 

through expanding knowledge of best practices and leadership development that enhance the 

participation of African-Americans in the mental and substance use disorder professions. 

228 
Outputs and Outcomes Tables

Program: Treatment - Science and Service Activities

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1

SAMHSA is revising targets based on recent data trends. 2

Target reduced from previously reported due to methodological change in data collection. Target aggregates CSAT

and CMHS Science and Service individuals trained, and CSAP CAPT individuals trained. 3

Decrease from previous year due to impact of state economies and restricted limits on meeting approvals.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.4.01 Percentage of participants who report

implementing improvementsin treatment

methods on the basis of information and

training provided by the program (Outcome)

FY 2014: 72.2%

Target:

90%

(Target Not Met)

90% 82%1 -8

1.4.02 Number of individuals trained per

year (Output)

FY 2014: 39,055

Target:

20,516

(Target Exceeded)

20,516 20,516 Maintain

1.4.09 Increase the number of individuals

trained by SAMHSA's Science and Services

Program(Output)

FY 201: 67,944

Target:

110,0003

(Target Not Met)

42,063 40,9472 -1,116

229 
Program: Treatment - Other Capacity1

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1

Other Capacity measures include the, Community Resilience and Recovery Initiative, HIV/AIDS Outreach,

Pregnant Postpartum Women, Recovery Community Services Program - Services, Recovery-Oriented Systems of

Care, SAT-ED, TCE/HIV, Targeted Capacity Expansion, Targeted Capacity Expansion- Health Information

Technology, Targeted Capacity Expansion- Peer to Peer, Targeted Capacity Expansion- Technology Assisted Care,

and Crisis Support programs.

Measure

Year and Most Recent

Result/Target for Recent

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.2.25 Percentage of adults receiving services

who had no past month substance use

(Outcome)

FY 2014: 64%

Target:

60%

(Target Exceeded)

58% 60% +2

1.2.26 Number of clients served (Output) FY 2014: 19,533 28,998 31,000 +2,002

Target:

30,849

(Target Not Met)

1.2.27 Percentage of adults receiving services

who were currently employed or engaged in

productive activities (Outcome)

FY 2014: 43.2%

Target:

45%

(Target Not Met)

43% 43% Maintain

1.2.28 Percentage of adults

who had a permanent place

community (Outcome)

receiving

to live in

services

the

FY 2014: 50.8%

Target:

47%

(Target Exceeded)

45% 47% +2

1.2.29 Percentage of adults receiving services

who had no involvement with the criminal

justice system (Outcome)

FY 2014: 97.1%

Target:

93%

(Target Exceeded)

91% 93% +2

230 
SAMHSA/Substance Abuse Treatment

PRNS Mechanism Table by APT

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2016

FY 2014 FY 2015 President's

Programs of Regional & National Significance

Final

No. Amount

Enacted

No. Amount

Budget

No. Amount

Grants/Cooperative

Continuations

Agreements:

349 $169,631 395 $160,642 452 $198,343

New/Competing 215 130,959 227 146,817 166 66,553

Subtotal 564 300,590 622 307,460 618 264,896

Contracts:

Continuations 11 40,964 15 40,757 14 42,972

New/Competing 9 19,144 6 13,246 7 12,834

Subtotal 20 60,108 21 54,003 21 55,805

Total, Substance Abuse Treatment 1 584 $360,698 643 $361,463 639 $320,701

1 The Minority Fellowship Program budget is reflected within the Health Surveillance and Program Support appropriation under 

the Agency-wide Initiatives Workforce program and is consistent with the FY 2016 Budget Request. 

231 
SAMHSA/Substance Abuse Treatment

PRNS Mechanism Table by PPA

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2016

FY2014 FY2015 President's

Programs of Regional & National Significance

Final

No. Amount

Enacted

No. Amount

Budget

No. Amount

CAPACITY:

OpioidTreatment

Grants

Programs/RegulatoryActivities

Continuations

2 $1,398 3 $2,400 2 $1,397

New/Competing 1 998 --- --- 1 1,000

Subtotal 3 2,396 3 2,400 3 2,397

Contracts

Continuations 5 4,896 3 5,208 3 3,385

New/Competing 3 1,432 3 1,116 3 2,942

Subtotal 8 6,328 6 6,324 6 6,327

Total, OpioidTreatment Programs/RegulatoryActivities 11 8,724 9 8,724 9 8,724

Screening, Brief

Grants

Intervention and Referral to Treatment

Continuations 22 19,473 24 20,576 49 20,721

New/Competing 12 18,313 49 19,215 13 3,844

Subtotal 34 37,786 73 39,790 62 24,566

Contracts

Continuations --- 3,324 2 5,109 1 4,975

New/Competing 2 5,779 --- 1,990 1 459

Subtotal 2 9,103 2 7,099 2 5,434

Total, Screening, BriefIntervention and Referral to Treatment 36 46,889 75 46,889 64 30,000

TCE - General

Grants

Continuations

New/Competing 2 800 11 12,000 40 17,699

Subtotal 31 8,411 41 19,502 52 29,749

Contracts

Continuations --- 1,812 1 2,867 2 5,128

New/Competing 1 3,000 --- 854 1 1,426

Subtotal 1 4,812 1 3,721 3 6,554

Total,TCE-General 32 13,223 42 23,223 55 36,303

232 
FY2016

FY2014 FY2015 President's

Programs of Regional & National Significance Final

No. Amount

Enacted

No. Amount

Budget

No. Amount

Pregnant & Postpartum

Grants

Continuations

Women

6 3,073 19 9,482 26 12,783

New/Competing 19 9,569 7 3,663 --- ---

Subtotal 25 12,642 26 13,144 26 12,783

Contracts

Continuations --- 3,140 --- 996 --- 2,941

New/Competing --- 149 --- 1,791 --- 207

Subtotal --- 3,289 --- 2,787 --- 3,148

Total, Pregnant & PostpartumWomen 25 15,931 26 15,931 26 15,931

Strengthening

Contracts

Continuations

Treatment Access andRetention

1 1,584 1 1,000 1 630

New/Competing --- 80 --- --- --- 370

Subtotal 1 1,664 1 1,000 1 1,000

Total, Strengthening Treatment Access andRetention 1 1,664 1 1,000 1 1,000

Recovery Community

Grants

Continuations

Services Program

--- --- 10 1,000 --- ---

New/Competing 19 1,450 8 400 10 1,000

Subtotal 19 1,450 18 1,400 10 1,000

Contracts

Continuations --- 491 --- 852 --- 1,433

New/Competing --- 493 --- 182 --- 1

Subtotal --- 984 --- 1,034 --- 1,434

Total, Recovery CommunityServices Program 19 2,434 18 2,434 10 2,434

233 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Treatment Systems

Grants

forHomeless

Continuations 34 16,505 36 14,954 60 32,809

New/Competing .......................................................................... 33 19,989 33 21,940 9 4,083

Subtotal 67 36,494 69 36,894 69 36,892

Contracts

Continuations --- 4,784 2 4,492 --- 2,697

New/Competing --- 108 --- --- --- 1,797

Subtotal --- 4,892 2 4,492 --- 4,494

Total, Treatment Systems forHomeless 67 41, 386 71 41,386 69 41,386

MinorityAIDS

Grants

Continuations 87 49,831 113 46,270 116 47,379

New/Competing 40 9,334 26 13,111 25 5,234

Subtotal 127 59,165 139 59,381 141 52,613

Contracts

Continuations 1 4,606 2 5,133 3 6,246

New/Competing 1 1,798 1 1,056 --- ---

Subtotal 2 6,405 3 6,189 3 6,246

Total, MinorityAIDS 129 65,570 142 65,570 144 58,859

Criminal Justice Activities

Grants

Continuations 131 41,275 133 39,571 136 40,515

New/Competing 81 22,064 63 28,127 41 12,941

Subtotal 212 63,339 196 67,698 177 53,456

Contracts

Continuations 1 7,684 2 7,063 1 8,381

New/Competing --- 3,794 1 3,239 --- 109

Subtotal 1 11,477 3 10,302 1 8,490

Total, Criminal Justice Activities 213 74,816 199 78,000 178 61,946

Subtotal, CAPACITY 567 $350,242 626 $350,985 619 $306,188

234 
Programs of Regional & National Significance

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

SCIENCE AND SERVICE:

AddictionTechnologyTransferCenters

Grants

Continuations 15 8,572 15 8,529 15 7,573

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 15 8,572 15 8,529 15 7,573

Contracts

Continuations --- 407 --- 517 --- 508

New/Competing --- 45 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 452 --- 517 --- 508

Total, AddictionTechnologyTransferCenters 15 9,024 15 9,046 15 8,081

Crisis Systems

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- 3 4,512

Subtotal --- --- --- --- 3 4,512

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- 488

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- 488

Total, Crisis Systems --- --- --- --- 3 5,000

SpecialInitiatives/Outreach

Grants

Continuations --- --- 1 300 1 300

New/Competing 1 300 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 300 1 300 1 300

Contracts

Continuations --- 80 1 1,078 1 1,090

New/Competing 1 1,052 --- 54 --- 42

Subtotal 1 1,132 1 1,132 1 1,132

Total, SpecialInitiatives/Outreach 2 1,432 2 1,432 2 1,432

Subtotal, SCIENCE AND SERVICE 17 10,456 17 10,478 20 14,513

1 Total,CSATPRNS 584 $360,698 643 $361,463 639

$320 7 $320,701

1

The Minority Fellowship Program budget isreflected within the Health Surveillance and Program Support appropriation undertheAgency-wideInitiativesWorkforce

programandisconsistentwiththeFY2016BudgetRequest.

235 
Grant Awards Table

(Whole dollars)

FY2014 FY2015 FY2016

Final Enacted President's Budget

Numberof Awards 564 622 618

Average Award $532,962 $494,309 $428,634

Range of Awards $300,000-$7,575,000 $300,000-$600,000 $300,000-$600,000

236 
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant

(Dollars in thousands)

Authorizing Legislation ......................................... Sections 1921 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ................................................................................................... Formula Grants

Eligible Entities........................States, Territories, Freely Associated States, District of Columbia,

and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians of Minnesota. 

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program (SABG) distributes funds 

to 60 eligible states, territories and freely associated states, the District of Columbia, and the Red

Lake Band of Chippewa Indians of Minnesota (states) to plan, carry out, and evaluate substance 

abuse prevention, treatment and recovery support services provided for individuals, families, and

communities impacted by substance abuse and substance use disorders. The SABG’s overall 

goal is to support and expand substance abuse prevention and treatment services while providing 

maximum flexibility to grantees. Targeted technical assistance is available for the states through

SAMHSA’s technical assistance contract.

The SABG is critically important because it provides the states and their respective SABG subrecipients the flexibility to respond to local and/or regional emergent issues impacting health,

public health, and public safety through a consistent federal funding stream. SABG accounts for

approximately 32 percent of total state substance abuse agency funding, and 23 percent of total

state substance abuse prevention and public health funding. Individuals and families without 

health coverage or whose health insurance benefit will not cover certain services (e.g., recovery

support) rely on services funded by the SABG. States also rely on the SABG funding for an

array of non-clinical activities and services that support critical needs of their respective service

systems, such as planning, coordination, needs assessment, workforce development, quality 

assurance, program development, and evaluation. 

SABG funds are distributed through a formula grant that provides funding based on specified

economic and demographic factors and is administered by Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Centers for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and

Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). Of the amounts appropriated for the SABG program,

95 percent are distributed to states through a formula included in the authorizing legislation.

Factors used to calculate the allotments include total personal income, state population data by

age groups (total population data for territories), total taxable resources, and a cost of services

index factor. The SABG also includes “hold harmless” provisions that limit fluctuations in

allotments as the total block grant appropriation changes from year to year. The SABG requires 

states to maintain expenditures for authorized activities at a level that is no less than the state’s

Program Activity FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

SubstanceAbuseBlockGrant 

PHSEvaluationFunds(non-add)

$1,815,443

79,200

$1,819,856

79,200

$1,819,856

79,200

$---

---

237 
average expenditures for the two-year period preceding the current year for which the state is

applying for a grant.

States submit to SAMHSA for approval a Block Grant Assessment and an annual plan that

contains detailed provisions for complying with each funding requirement specified in the PHS

Act, and describe how the grantees and their respective SABG sub-recipients intend to expend 

SABG funds. The legislation includes specific funding set-asides, including 20 percent for

primary prevention, and five percent for HIV early intervention for designated54 states. The

legislation also includes performance requirements for the treatment of substance-using pregnant 

women and women with dependent children, and provides states with the flexibility to expend a 

combination of federal and non-federal funds. There are also requirements and potential penalty

reduction of the Block Grant allotment if the recipient fails to prohibit and enforce sale of 

tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18. 

SAMHSA encourages states to use block grant resources to support and not supplant services

that will be covered through commercial and public insurer plans. In FY 2011, SAMHSA

redesigned the FY 2012-2013 MHBG and SABG applications to better align with changes in

federal/state environments, including the impacts of the Affordable Care Act, the Mental Health

Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), and the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA). The

new design offered states the opportunity to complete a combined application for mental health

and substance abuse services, submit a biennial versus an annual plan,55 and provide information

regarding their efforts to respond to various changes in federal and state law. Submitting the 

application/plan biennially, reduces the burden on states to prepare and submit an

application/plan every year.

The FY 2014-2015 Block Grant application built upon the FY 2012-2013 application and the

FY 2016-2017 Block Grant application is currently available for public comment. Under the

application, SAMHSA Block Grant funds are directed toward four purposes: 

1) To fund priority treatment and support services for individuals without insurance or for

whom coverage is terminated for short periods of time;

2) To fund those priority treatment and support services not covered by Medicaid,

Medicare, or private insurance for low-income individuals and that demonstrate success

in improving outcomes and/or supporting recovery;

3) To fund primary prevention-universal, selective, and indicated prevention activities

and services for persons not identified as needing treatment; and

4) To collect performance and outcome data to determine the ongoing effectiveness of

behavioral health promotion, treatment, and recovery support services and to plan the 

implementation of new services on a nationwide basis.

SAMHSA also encourages the states to use their Block Grants to: (1) allow recovery to be 

pursued through personal choice and many pathways; (2) encourage providers to assess

54 42 U.SC. 300x24(b)(2) and 45 CFR 96.128(b) 55 State Plan for Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Certain Individuals (Sec. 1912 of Title

XIX, Part B, Subpart I of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 USC § 300x-2)).

238 
performance based on outcomes that demonstrate client successes; and (3) expand capacity by

increasing the number and types of providers who deliver clinical treatment and/or recovery

support services.

An independent evaluation of the SABG demonstrated how states have leveraged the statutory

requirements of this Block Grant program to expand existing or establish new treatment capacity

in underserved areas of states and territories and to improve coordination of services with other 

state systems.56 The SABG has been successful in expanding treatment capacity by supporting 

approximately 2 million57 admissions to treatment programs receiving public funding. Outcome

data for the Block Grant program show positive results as reported through Behavioral Health

Services Information System/Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) administered by SAMHSA’s

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. In FY 2012, at discharge, clients

demonstrated high abstinence rates from both illegal drug (73.4 percent) and alcohol (81.6 

percent) use. State substance abuse authorities reported the following outcomes for

services provided during FY 2012, the most recent year for which data is available:

• For the 50 states58 and D.C. that reported data in the Abstinence from

Drug/Alcohol Use Domain for alcohol use, 50 of 51 identified improvements in

client abstinence;

• Similarly, for the 50 states and D.C. that reported data in the Abstinence from

Drug/Alcohol Use Domain for drug use, 50 of 51 identified improvements in client

abstinence;

• For the 50 states and D.C. that reported data in the Employment Domain, 49 of 50

identified improvements in client employment;

• For the 50 states and D.C. that reported data in the Criminal Justice Domain, 45 of

51 reported an increase in clients with no arrests based on data reported to TEDS;

and

• For the 49 states and D.C. that reported data in the Housing Domain, 44 of 50

identified improvements in stable housing for clients based on data reported to

TEDS.

20 Percent Prevention Set-Aside

SAMHSA is responsible for managing the 20 percent prevention set-aside of the SABG. This is

one of SAMHSA’s main vehicles for supporting SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative #1: Prevention 

of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness (All substance abuse prevention funds are used according

to the relevant authorities to focus on substance abuse). States use these funds to develop 

infrastructure and capacity specific to substance abuse prevention. Some states rely solely on the 

20 percent set-aside to fund their prevention systems while others use the funds to target gaps

and enhance existing program efforts.

56 http://tie.samhsa.gov/SAPT2010.html#Evaluation. 57Source: 2013 SABG Report – Table II.

58Source: West Virginia numbers have been included in the text, but they appear lower than expected.

239 
States are encouraged to make prevention a top priority, taking advantage of recent science, best

practices in community coordination, proven planning processes, and the science articulated by

the IOM report, Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young 

People.59 SAMHSA regularly works with states to improve their accountability systems for

prevention and to establish necessary reporting capacities.

Synar

The Synar program is the set of actions put in place by states, with the support of the Federal

government, to implement the requirements of the Synar Amendment. The Amendment was

developed in the context of a growing body of evidence about the health problems related to

tobacco use by youth, as well as evidence about the ease with which youth could purchase 

tobacco products through retail sources. The Synar program is a critical component of the 

success of youth tobacco use prevention efforts. SAMHSA is charged with overseeing states’

implementation of the Synar requirements and provides technical assistance to states on both the 

Synar requirements and youth tobacco access issues in general.

While the national weighted retailer violation rate declined steadily from the program’s baseline

year in FY 1997 through FY 2011, the rate has increased slightly since FY 2012. One of the 

greatest predictors of a state's retailer violation rate is the amount and reach of their enforcement

efforts. As states have faced budget shortfalls, some have scaled back on their enforcement

programs and this may be contributing to the increase in the rate of tobacco sales to youth. Also,

under the Synar program, SAMHSA encourages states to include in their inspections the types of 

tobacco products most often used by youth in their states. As states have expanded the types of 

tobacco products included in their Synar inspections, some states are reporting that retailers are

sometimes more likely to sell non-cigarette tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, to

youth. These factors are likely contributing to the overall increase in the national weighted

retailer violation rate. SAMHSA is addressing this increase by providing technical assistance to

states, as well as examining Synar data in order to provide states with guidance on best practices

including enforcement, merchant education, and community mobilization.

In 2010, SAMHSA redesigned the planning section of the assessment and plan process for both 

the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) and SABG. SAMHSA is aligning the block grants to

align with the recent expansion of health insurance coverage under the 2014 Affordable Care Act

implementation in which state and federal responsibility is supporting behavioral health services

and supports for those otherwise unable to receive services through Medicaid, Medicare, and/or 

private insurance plans offered through employers or through the new insurance marketplaces.

Together, SAMHSA’s block grants support the provision of services and related supports to

approximately eight million individuals with mental and substance use conditions. With an

estimated 11.4 million adults having a severe mental illness,60 44.7 million adults having any

mental illness,61 and another 22.1 million adults with a substance use disorder,62 demand clearly

59http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2009/Preventing-Mental-Emotional-and-Behavioral-Disorders-Among-YoungPeople-Progress-and-Possibilities.aspx.

60 http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2k10MH_Findings/2k10MHResults.htm.

61http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k12/NSDUH110/sr110-adult-mental-illness.htm.

240 
outpaces the public behavioral health system’s established capacity. Many of these individuals, 

and some of the services they need, will continue to be without coverage through public or 

private insurance mechanisms. Aligning and coordinating the SAMHSA block grants with the 

changes to the health care system brought about by the ACA process is the start of assembling a 

cohesive national service system that is responsive to potential gaps in service delivery and

effectively provides needed behavioral health services across sectors and across payment 

sources. 

States should determine if established systems and procedures are sufficient to ensure that Block

Grant funds are expended in accordance with program requirements and directed to support and

not supplant health reform activities. In the FY 2014-2015 budgets, SAMHSA has strongly 

recommended that states use these resources to support and not supplant services that will be 

covered through commercial and public insurer plans. States will be asked to develop metrics or 

targets for their systems to measure increases in the number of individuals who become enrolled

or providers that join commercial or publicly funded provider networks. The primary goals of 

SAMHSA’s program integrity efforts are to continue to (1) promote the proper expenditure of 

block grant funds, (2) improve block grant program compliance nationally, and (3) demonstrate 

the effective use of block grant funds. 

SAMHSA will provide additional guidance to the states to assist them in complying with this

continuing emphasis on program integrity, will develop new and better tools for reviewing block 

grant application and reports, and will train SAMHSA staff in these program integrity

approaches and tools. SAMHSA will be working with states to develop changes to information

systems and compliance review processes to ensure increasing program integrity. This may

include working closely with Medicaid and Health Insurance Exchanges to obtain information to

determine if individuals and providers in their systems are enrolled. This may also include 

strategies to assist their providers to develop the necessary infrastructures to operate in

commercial and public insurer networks (Medicaid and Medicare). The Uniform Application

and SAMHSA’s block grant reporting system are tools to assist in this process.

62 http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2k10ResultsRev/NSDUHresultsRev2010.htm#Ch7.

241 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2007 $1,758,591,000

FY 2008 $1,758,728,000

FY 2009 $1,699,391,000

FY 2010 $1,798,591,000

FY 2011 $1,798,591,000

FY 2012 $1,800,331,901

FY 2013 $1,710,306,000

FY 2014 $1,815,443,000

FY 2015 $1,819,856,000

FY 2016 $1,819,856,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $1.8 billion. This is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level.

Despite the wide scale opportunity to obtain insurance coverage created by the ACA, significant

gaps in coverage, as well as the subsequent reliance on the public behavioral health safety net

remain. Among the gaps, the states’ decision regarding Medicaid expansion is perhaps the most 

significant. To date, 3363 states have chosen not to expand their Medicaid programs resulting in

approximately 3.7 million Americans with behavioral health conditions without health

insurance.64

Additionally, a recent report by the Urban Institute finds that adults with physical and/or mental

health issues, particularly those in low income families, have more difficulties obtaining and

affording health care than adults who reported no health problems. For adults with physical

and/or behavioral health issues, ongoing barriers to care exist even with full-year health

insurance, affordability being the greatest barrier compared to healthier individuals.65 For

example, after state-based healthcare expansion efforts in Massachusetts, only 2.6 percent of 

state residents were uninsured but yet more than 20 percent of clients admitted to substance 

abuse treatment facilities were uninsured, even though they were eligible for some form of

insurance coverage.

SABG funds will also continue the support certain services (e.g., recovery supports) not covered

by commercial insurance and non-clinical activities and services that support critical needs of

state substance abuse prevention and treatment service systems.

63 Indiana’s approval is pending at this time

64 http://www.amhca.org/assets/content/AMHCA_DashedHopes_Report_2_21_14_final.pdf

65 http://hrms.urban.org/briefs/evidence-of-significant-gaps.html

242 
Outputs and Outcomes Tables

Program: Treatment Activities

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent 

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

1.2.43 Number

substance abuse

receiving public

of admissions to

treatment programs

funding (Output)

FY 2013: 1,928,675

Target: 1,937,960

(Target Not Met but Improved)

1,880,000 1,880,000 Maintain

1.2.48 Percentage of clients reporting no

drug use in the past month at discharge

(Outcome)

FY 2013: 74.6%

Target: 74%

(Target Exceeded)

74% 74% Maintain

1.2.49 Percentage of clients

reporting no alcohol use in the

month at discharge (Outcome)

past

FY 2013: 85.2%

Target: 78%

(Target Exceeded)

78% 78% Maintain

1.2.50 Percentage of clients reporting

being employed/in school at discharge

(Outcome)

FY 2013: 43.2%

Target: 43%

(Target Exceeded)

43% 40%1 -3

1.2.51 Percentage of clients reporting

involvement with the Criminal Justice

System (Outcome)

no FY 2013: 94.8%

Target: 92%

(Target Exceeded)

92% 92% Maintain

1.2.85 Percentage of clients receiving

services who had a permanent place to

live in the community(Outcome)

FY 2013: 92.7%

Target: 92%

(Target Exceeded)

92% 92% Maintain

1

SAMHSA is revising targets based on recent data trends.

243 
Program: Synar Amendment

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure

Year and Most Recent Result/

Target for Recent/

Result

(Summary of Results)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

2.3.49

Rico)

below

Number of States

whose retail sales

20% (Outcome)

(including Puerto

violations is at or FY 2013: 51

Target: 52

(Target Not Met)

52 52 Maintain

2.3.62 Number of States (excluding

Puerto Rico) reporting retail tobacco

sales violation rates below 10%

(Outcome)

FY 2013: 29

Target: 34

(Target Not Met)

33 33 Maintain

244 
Program: Prevention Set-Aside

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

1 Virginia and West Virginia estimates were suppressed due to low precision.

Measure

Year and Most Recent 

Result/ Target for Recent 

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/- 

FY 2016

Target

2.3.63 Percent of states showing an

increase in state level estimates of survey

respondents who rate the risk of substance

abuse as moderate or great (age 12-17)

(Outcome)

FY 2013: 19.6%

(Historical Actual)

22% 22% Maintain

2.3.65 Percent of states showing a decrease in

state level estimates of percent of survey

respondents who report 30 day use of alcohol

(age 12-20) (Outcome)

FY 2013: 67.3%1

Target: 52.9%

(Target Exceeded)

67.5% 67.5% Maintain

2.3.67 Percent of states showing a decrease in

state level estimates of percent of survey

respondents who report 30 day use of other 

illicit drugs (age

12-17)(Outcome)

FY 2013: 68.6%

Target: 64.7%

(Target Exceeded)

63% 63% Maintain

2.3.68 Percent of states showing a decrease in

state level estimates of percent of survey

respondents who report 30 day use of other 

illicit drugs (age 18+) (Outcome)

FY 2013: 43.1%

Target: 37.3%

(Target Exceeded)

43% 43% Maintain

245 
Department of Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

FY2016 DISCRETIONARY STATE/FORMULA GRANTS

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG)

CFDA #93.959

State/Territory

FY2014

Actual

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/- 

FY2015

Alabama $22,926,066 $22,940,958 $22,940,949 -$9

Alaska 5,499,891 5,539,999 5,539,997 -2

Arizona 39,323,249 39,546,174 39,546,159 -15

Arkansas 13,428,775 13,437,498 13,437,493 -5

California 249,086,920 250,323,608 250,323,511 -97

Colorado 25,283,810 25,300,234 25,300,224 -10

Connecticut 17,584,936 17,596,359 17,596,352 -7

Delaware 6,807,911 6,824,460 6,824,457 -3

District OfColumbia 6,807,911 6,824,460 6,824,457 -3

Florida 109,951,627 110,662,825 110,662,782 -43

Georgia 51,074,888 51,162,012 51,161,992 -20

Hawaii 8,150,210 8,212,595 8,212,592 -3

Idaho 8,475,423 8,480,929 8,480,926 -3

Illinois 67,166,999 67,210,630 67,210,604 -26

Indiana 32,017,858 32,038,656 32,038,644 -12

Iowa 13,000,677 13,009,122 13,009,117 -5

Kansas 11,815,441 11,823,116 11,823,111 -5

Kentucky 20,234,141 20,247,285 20,247,277 -8

Louisiana 24,849,301 24,865,443 24,865,433 -10

Maine 6,807,911 6,824,460 6,824,457 -3

Maryland 33,838,777 33,860,758 33,860,745 -13

Massachusetts 39,563,072 39,588,772 39,588,757 -15

Michigan 55,656,128 55,692,281 55,692,259 -22

Minnesota 23,931,452 23,946,997 23,946,988 -9

Mississippi 13,705,865 13,714,768 13,714,763 -5

Missouri 26,346,394 26,363,508 26,363,498 -10

Montana 6,807,911 6,824,460 6,824,457 -3

Nebraska 7,587,158 7,592,087 7,592,084 -3

Nevada 16,462,188 16,698,170 16,698,164 -6

New Hampshire 6,807,911 6,824,460 6,824,457 -3

246 
Department of Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

FY2016 DISCRETIONARYSTATE/FORMULA GRANTS

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG)

CFDA #93.959

State/Territory

FY2014

Actual

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/- 

FY2015

New Jersey $46,349,018 $46,379,126 $46,379,108 -$18

New Mexico 9,497,415 9,503,584 9,503,580 -4

New York 111,038,560 111,110,689 111,110,646 -43

NorthCarolina 43,346,419 43,374,576 43,374,559 -17

North Dakota 6,101,774 6,146,271 6,146,269 -2

Ohio 64,078,971 64,120,596 64,120,571 -25

Oklahoma 17,027,963 17,039,024 17,039,017 -7

Oregon 20,011,555 20,024,554 20,024,546 -8

Pennsylvania 58,681,907 58,720,026 58,720,003 -23

Rhode Island 7,544,696 7,549,597 7,549,594 -3

SouthCarolina 23,149,144 23,164,181 23,164,172 -9

SouthDakota 5,642,441 5,683,588 5,683,586 -2

Tennessee 29,340,645 29,359,704 29,359,693 -11

Texas 139,747,042 139,837,820 139,837,766 -54

Utah 16,471,172 16,481,871 16,481,865 -6

Vermont 6,032,970 6,076,965 6,076,963 -2

Virginia 41,682,781 41,709,858 41,709,842 -16

Washington 37,271,989 37,296,200 37,296,186 -14

West Virginia 8,372,996 8,378,435 8,378,432 -3

Wisconsin 27,005,484 27,023,026 27,023,016 -10

Wyoming 3,920,161 3,948,749 3,948,747 -2

Red Lake Indians 589,822 590,206 590,206 0

AmericanSamoa 333,113 333,546 335,697 2,151

Guam 963,165 970,730 983,907 13,177

Northern Marianas 314,821 311,984 313,924 1,940

Puerto Rico 22,369,385 22,405,098 22,365,770 -39,328

Palau 126,467 127,671 129,496 1,825

MarshallIslands 405,435 415,696 427,892 12,196

Micronesia 644,741 646,411 650,940 4,529

VirginIslands 638,392 639,053 642,553 3,500

247 
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248 
SAMHSA

Health Surveillance and Program Support 

Table of Contents

SAMHSA/ Health Surveillance and Program Support

1. Health Surveillance and Program Support ...................................................................... 251

2. Public Awareness and Support ....................................................................................... 257

3. Performance and Quality Information Systems .............................................................. 263

4. Agency-Wide Initiatives ................................................................................................. 267

249 
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250 
Health Surveillance

(Dollars in thousands)

ProgramActivity

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY

FY

2016

+/-

2015

HealthSurveillance and ProgramSupport $47,258 $47,258 $49,428 +$2,170

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) --- --- 20,000 +20,000

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 30,428 30,428 29,428 -1,000

Data Request and PublicationUser Fees $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $---

Authorizing Legislation ............................... Section 501 and 505 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................................... Direct Federal/Intramural, Contracts, Other

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

SAMHSA’s national surveys and the analyses conducted through them are used by federal, state,

and local authorities, as well as other healthcare stakeholders, to inform mental and substance

use disorder policy. The Health Surveillance budget supports many of the critical behavioral 

health data systems, national surveys, and surveillance activities for HHS undertaken by

SAMHSA.

SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) administers the 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which serves as the nation’s primary source

for information on the incidence and prevalence of substance use and mental disorders and

related health conditions. A new NSDUH contract was awarded in FY 2013 to finance annual 

surveys through 2017. 

Much of SAMHSA’s current data effort is captured and reported at the national or state level.

Information on the health and behavioral health at the community level serves to identify current

and emerging problems and highlight opportunities for progress that may vary from larger

geographical areas. Importantly, when communities have access to surveillance data over time,

they can then direct targeted prevention efforts to the vulnerable populations. Under the

Community Behavioral Health Data Initiative (CDI) structure, SAMHSA will more closely

coordinate three separate existing data efforts: the Community Early Warning and Monitoring 

System (C-EMS), SAMHSA’s Emergency Department Surveillance System (SEDSS) (formerly

the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)), and the Program Studies on Treatment and

Recovery (PSTAR), to create new opportunities for cross-agency and public-private partnerships 

to address critical public health questions and more effectively use existing or declining 

resources. Data from this coordinated initiative can be combined with data from other agencies

such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Agency for Healthcare

Research and Quality (AHRQ), and then be reported by regional and community type.

Moreover, these data will allow those evaluating the effectiveness of services and policies in a 

community to measure the impact and outcomes of those interventions.

251 
Emergency Department (ED) data remains an important component of public health data because

it provides a picture of the most urgent health conditions, and more specifically behavioral health

issues in the community. ED data is an excellent tool for monitoring trends in mental and

substance use disorders and related conditions, and when examined across the nation, provides 

important surveillance for targeting emerging behavioral health issues. The SAMHSA

Emergency Department Surveillance System (SEDSS) collects data in many hospitals in a variety

of communities and will provide a summary of visits by patients with mental health conditions

and substance use problems. By collaborating with the National Center for Health Statistics

(NCHS), SAMHSA has an opportunity to understand more comprehensively the nature and course

of behavioral health presentations to ED. Thus, SEDSS, which will replace DAWN, will collect

ED visit information on both mental and substance use disorders. 

The Behavioral Health Services Information System (BHSIS) provides crucial information of 

behavioral health surveillance and data across a number of treatment and condition domains. 

One aspect of this system is the treatment locator, which is accessed more than two million times

a year by individuals, families, community groups, and organizations to identify appropriate 

treatment services. SAMHSA posted a new up-to-date Behavioral Health Treatment Services

Locator that provides accurate, timely, and regularly updated information on mental health and

substance abuse treatment facilities across the country in FY 2014 as well as information on 

Federally Qualified Health Centers. During FY 2015, SAMHSA will explore the potential for

integrating buprenorphine providers (those authorized under 21 U.S.C. Section 823 to dispense

(but not prescribe) opioid treatment medication) and National Health Corps facilities into the 

Services Locator.

BHSIS funding was increased to $17.0 million in FY 2013 with SAMHSA’s Center for Mental

Health Services (CMHS) providing an additional $7.1 million for this co-funded behavioral 

health facility survey. BHSIS funding in FY 2014 increased to $21.0 million with CMHS

providing an additional $7.5 million. In FY 2015 and FY 2016, $21.0 million for BHSIS

continues to provide coordinated substance abuse and mental health facility surveys. 

Funding was also provided in FY 2013 and FY 2014 for CMHS’s Transformation Accountability 

System (TRAC), the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)’s Services Accountability 

Improvement System (SAIS), and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)’s Data

Collection, Analyses, and Reporting (DCAR). These data systems were replaced with the new

SAMHSA Common Data Platform (CDP).

In FY 2014, funding was appropriated for a number of activities to support a broad range of 

analytic work to be carried out by CBHSQ. These activities include support for an Analytic

Support Center (ASC) which undertakes a number of scientific and writing tasks on policy and

practice-related topics in response to requests from SAMHSA Centers and related components, 

HHS agencies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AHRQ, the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA), and the Surgeon General’s Office), the Office of National Drug Control 

Policy, and the Department of Justice. ASC’s funding in Health Surveillance was $2.0 million in

FY 2013 and $1.7 million in FY 2014, and $2.0 million in FY 2015. In FY 2016 funding 

252 
remains at $2.0 million for the ASC contract (formerly the Analytic Support and CBHSQ

Logistics contracts).

SAMHSA will continue to finance NSDUH surveys in FY 2015 and FY 2016, with Substance 

Abuse Block Grant Budget Authority funding and Prevention and Public Health Funds. Also in

FY 2015, CBHSQ will fund $3.0 million for Community Early Warning and Monitoring System

(C-EMS), and $3.5 million for the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices

(NREPP), $2.2 million from Health Surveillance. In FY 2016, funding will remain at the same

level as FY 2015 for C-EMS funded by the Prevention Fund and NREPP with $1.1 million from

Health Surveillance.

$3.5 million for Grantee Data Development Technical Assistance (GDTA) was provided in

FY 2014. The funding will be used to support the development of a support contract and TA

Team for an integrated approach to performance and quality data collection and reporting,

including a pilot to fund regional data coordinators. Funding for GDTA in FY 2016 will remain

at the same level and from the same funding source as FY 2015. 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA partially funded $4.4 million of the $5.1 million data collection and

evaluation activities from Health Surveillance. The activities include expanding the pilot efforts

with the C-EMS; pilot implementation of a data room for use by agency research staff to access

confidential data in a secure environment; a pilot study to collect behavioral health data from

electronic health records; and a pilot project with the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) of the 

CDC to secure an EIS graduate to identify and address public health outbreaks related to

behavioral health, including deaths due to heroin laced with fentanyl and increases in heroin in

specific communities. In FY 2015, the Data Collection and Evaluation Activities funds will be 

reallocated as pilot activities and integrated into normal operations. 

Health Surveillance funding in FY 2016 includes $1.1 million in Operations and $7.1 million in

FTE Payroll to support the administrative costs and support of CBHSQ personnel, programs and

interagency agreements.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $47,428,000

FY 2013 $45,421,000

FY 2014 $47,258,000

FY 2015 $47,258,000

FY 2016 $49,428,000 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request for Health Surveillance is $49.4 million at the program level with

$29.4 million from PHS Evaluation Funds, and $20.0 million from Prevention and Public Health

Funds. This is a total increase of $2.2 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level, with a 

$16.8 million decrease from Budget Authority, a $1.0 million decrease from PHS Evaluation

253 
Funds, and a $20.0 million increase from Prevention and Public Health Funds. This funding will

support the continuation of the NREPP, BHSIS, C-EMS, the CBHSQ Analytic Support Center

contract.

The additional funding supports the President’s Now is the Time initiative. Specifically, this

funding will be used for a new initiative, Science of Changing Social Norms: Building the 

Evidence, to measure and track attitudes, behaviors and community norms regarding mental

health and substance abuse. These data will enable SAMHSA to understand more fully the 

impact of social messaging, improve social acceptance of people with mental and substance use 

disorders; expand understanding of the health, economic, and social impact of untreated

behavioral health conditions; increase the willingness of Americans to seek help for these issues;

and help Americans see behavioral health as a public health priority. The Science of Changing 

Social Norms will have a second component, Social Media, funded from Public Awareness and

Support.

SAMHSA/Health Surveillance

Mechanism Table

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Health Surveillance

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations 1 41,630 4 47,258 4 49,428

New/Competing 3 5,628 --- 5,628 --- ---

Subtotal 4 47,258 4 52,886 4 49,428

Total, Health Surveillance 4 47,258 4 52,886 4 49,428

254 
Program Support

(Dollars in thousands)

ProgramActivity FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

ProgramSupport $72,002 $72,002 $79,559 +$7,557

Authorizing Legislation .............................................Section 501 of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................................... Direct Federal/Intramural, Contracts, Other

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Program Support budget supports the majority of SAMHSA staff who plan, direct, and

administer SAMHSA programs and individuals who provide technical assistance, data collection

and evaluation, and program guidance to states, mental health and substance abuse professionals, 

stakeholders, federal partners, and the general public. SAMHSA staffing represents a critical

component of the budget. Staff positions that are not financed directly through the Health

Surveillance and Program Support account are financed with Block Grant set-aside funds for

activities associated with technical assistance, data collection and evaluation, and from other 

program lines for activities directly relating to the administration of those particular programs.

In addition, this budget supports the Unified Financial Management System, which covers

administrative activities such as human resources, information technology and the centralized

services provided by HHS’s Program Support Center and the department. 

In FY 2015, SAMHSA supports a total of 665 FTEs from various funding sources including 

funds from the Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Health Surveillance and Program

Support appropriations. Budget authority funds, Public Health Service (PHS) Evaluation SetAside Funds, and other reimbursable funds support these positions. Of SAMHSA’s 665 FTEs,

535 are supported with Budget Authority. Of these, 495 are supported directly from Program

Support funds. 

SAMHSA applies an estimated internal administrative charge for overhead expenses to all

programs, projects and activities.

SAMHSA is pursuing an agency-wide program integrity initiative to mitigate the risk of improper 

payments throughout its grant portfolio. Building on the SAMHSA-specific risk assessments to

date, along with the department’s findings across operating and staff divisions, SAMHSA is

pursuing a coordinated effort to better monitor grants. SAMHSA’s Office of Management,

Technology, and Operations and CBHSQ are working to develop an enterprise reporting 

system which should be capable of linking program performance and financial performance data

with plans to identify outliers in both domains of performance for further review and follow 

up. 

255 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $76,889,616

FY 2013 $77,997,779

FY 2014 $72,002,000

FY 2015 $72,002,000

FY 2016 $79,559,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $79.6 million for Program Support, a one-time $7.6 million

increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. This increase will cover the additional costs associated

with the move to 5600 Fishers Lane in FY 2016 including extending the current building 

lease, the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) loan repayment program, and security charges

as part of government-wide efforts to reduce long-term rent and utility costs though reductions

in per person space use and periodic re-evaluation of competing lease offers.

In FY 2016, SAMHSA plans to support a total of 665 FTEs from various funding sources,

including funds from the Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Health Surveillance

and Program Support appropriations. Funding from Budget Authority as well as PHS Evaluation

Funds supports these positions. 

SAMHSA/ Program Support

Mechanism Table

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Program

Grants

Conti

Support

nuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations --- 72,002 --- 72,002 --- 79,559

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 72,002 --- 72,002 --- 79,559

Total, ProgramSupport --- 72,002 --- 72,002 --- 79,559

256 
Public Awareness and Support

(Dollars in thousands) 

ProgramActivity

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY 2016

+/-

FY 2015

Program Level $13,482 $13,482 $15,571 +$2,089 

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 15,571 +15,571 

Authorizing Legislation ........... Section 501, 509, 516, and 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ...........................................................................................Grants and Contracts 

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

The behavioral healthcare system is under increased attention as a result of the expansion of

access to behavioral health care through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the implementation

of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), recent highly-publicized 

tragic events, and the President’s Now is the Time initiative. Americans want to know what more

can be done to make sure everyone has access to the mental health and substance use treatment

they need to live healthy, productive lives in their communities. SAMHSA and the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that at some point in their lives, almost half of 

all Americans will experience symptoms of a behavioral health disorder – mental illness or

addiction. Perhaps even more concerning, half of all lifetime cases of mental and substance use

disorders begin by age 14 and three-fourths by age 24. For these reasons, it is important to

identify issues early and help individuals get the treatment they need as soon as possible. 

Communities are increasingly engaging in prevention strategies and approaches that are effective

in supporting the overall health and wellness of their residents. In light of the public’s sustained

interest and concerns about behavioral health issues, this is a critical time to raise the public’s 

understanding of mental and substance use disorders and increase the recognition of SAMHSA’s

behavioral health expertise.

In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to launch or continue a number of vital programs and activities,

both internally and externally, to position SAMHSA effectively as a leader of public health

efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. 

Collaborating Across Agencies

In FY 2015, SAMHSA plans to continue collaborations with other agencies to promote 

awareness of behavioral health. For example, through the Materials Development and Marketing 

Support (MDMS) contract, SAMHSA will coordinate with the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) to promote the Million Hearts Campaign, and will work with the White House

to continue to support the National Dialogue on Mental Health. SAMHSA will also continue to

support the National Outreach, Public Education and Engagement Initiative (NOPEEI) contract,

257 
which provides communications support for national outreach and public education initiatives

across a variety of behavioral health topics.

Funding will enable SAMHSA to broaden its reach by collaborating across agencies to help

people recognize mental and/or substance use disorders and seek assistance with the same

urgency as any other health condition and with the expectation of recovery. For example, the 

funding will support the agency’s continued collaboration with CDC on social marketing 

activities specific to blood pressure screening and control, smoking cessation, and weight loss in

communities with the highest prevalence of reported cardiovascular disease among persons with

behavioral health conditions. 

Providing Critical Resources to the Behavioral Health Community

SAMHSA’s strategic communications plan ensures that the vital information and training

materials produced through SAMHSA’s centers and offices are available to the behavioral and

health care community through the Public Engagement Platform (PEP), which manages the

agency’s print and online information resources. PEP provides a customer-oriented fulfillment

system, including an online store, call-in contact center, warehouse, email updates, exhibit

program, and strategic partnerships to fulfill the educational and training needs of the public and

health service providers. The various channels of communication managed by SAMHSA

generated more than 26.6 million customer interactions in FY 2014, shipped over 7.3 million

copies of SAMHSA publications, and had more than 1.3 million total online visitors to the 

SAMHSA Store where publications are available for order by mail or instantaneous download. 

SAMHSA is also responsible for managing the Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH), with its vast

network of behavioral health experts nationwide, to provide information and counseling referral

to the public after tragic events. SAMHSA quickly mobilizes in the aftermath of a disaster to

deliver behavioral health information and support services to responders and survivors. For

example, in response to community unrest stemming from the events in Ferguson, Missouri,

SAMHSA disseminated an e-blast on November 25, 2014, less than 24 hours after the grand

jury’s decision was announced, to nearly 213,000 constituents. The e-blast featured SAMHSA’s

Disaster Distress Helpline and SAMHSA’s new publication, “Tips for Survivors: Coping with

Grief After Community Violence,” which has been downloaded over 1,100 times since it was

released in November, 2014. 

To further support behavioral health first responders, SAMHSA has also developed and launched

the behavioral health disaster mobile app, available on iTunes, Android, and the Blackberry

World. Using this mobile app, behavioral health first responders can zero in on the exact

location to respond to a disaster and easily access and share behavioral health resources, updated 

in real-time, with those most in need at the site of a disaster. The SAMHSA disaster app has the 

potential to reach thousands of people with vital behavioral health resources. Within a month of 

its initial launch in February 2014, more than 2,500 people downloaded the app. In August of 

2014, SAMHSA released “Know Bullying,” a mobile app that gives parents and caregivers the 

tools they need to talk to their children about bullying. In the future, SAMHSA will continue to

innovate in these new platforms by launching additional mobile apps to address topics such as

suicide prevention. 

258 
SAMHSA is also collaborating with WebMD, which reaches more than three million U.S.

healthcare providers every month, to provide critical information to both the behavioral health

workforce and primary care providers. With WebMD, SAMHSA developed a continuing medical

education (CME) resource to train providers in the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral

to Treatment (SBIRT) approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services

for persons with substance use disorders, as well as those who are at risk of developing these

disorders.

Funding is important for SAMHSA to continue providing critical information resources in a 

timely fashion, and access to emergency response networks, for the public and the behavioral

health workforce. 

 Leveragin g SAMHSA’s Online Presenc e 

Available 24/7, SAMHSA.gov is the public’s primary access point for behavioral health

information in the federal government. SAMHSA’s website and social media channels such as

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are critical to efforts to engage with citizens about behavioral 

health. The increasingly effective reach of these online channels is demonstrated by the fact that

the number of people following SAMHSA on Twitter has increased more than 580 percent (from

7,000 to nearly 48,000) in 18 months, and posts to the SAMHSA Facebook page typically reach

tens of thousands of people a week.

In the course of prioritizing the internet as a strategic business initiative and communications

asset, SAMHSA consolidated and modernized SAMHSA’s web presence. Through an ongoing 

focused effort (Project Evolve), almost 90 disparate websites created for various SAMHSAsponsored campaigns and programs are being consolidated into one site. In FY 2014 and into

FY 2015, SAMHSA moved forward with the integration of SAMHSA’s public information and

data into a single, redesigned website, SAMHSA.gov.

SAMHSA’s focused efforts will ensure that the agency speaks to the nation with a unified voice.

It also helps eliminate multiple web development and maintenance efforts, resulting in lower

overall operating costs, greater efficiency, increased effectiveness, and improved service for

visitors to SAMHSA’s website. SAMHSA anticipates the completion of the website

consolidation phase in FY 2016. 

Raising Awareness of SAMHSA’s Role as a Le ader in 

Behavioral Health Data and Surveillance

A key goal of the agency’s Public Awareness and Support effort is to make certain that valuable 

health and behavioral data reach the widest number of Americans, enabling them to make

informed decisions about the health and wellbeing of their loved ones and themselves.

SAMHSA shares this vital information through the aforementioned vehicles —MDMS, PEP, the

Web, and social media—as well as through other program operations such as the press releases

issued by SAMHSA to highlight latest findings, including the National Survey on Drug Use and

Health (NSDUH), and SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Barometer, which provides data on 

259 
behavioral health problems at the national level, and for each of the 50 states and the District of 

Columbia. SAMHSA has also completed and is implementing an agency-wide Strategic

Communications Plan in order to elevate recognition of SAMHSA as a thought leader and

premier source of behavioral health information. The plan’s goal is to effectively reach the 

media, providers, government agencies, and academic arenas in order to position SAMHSA at

the forefront of public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. As a result,

SAMHSA will expand public awareness about behavioral health, increase understanding and

sensitivity, encourage open dialog, and influence changes in perceptions.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $13,545,351

FY 2013 $13,545,351

FY 2014 $13,482,000

FY 2015 $13,482,000

FY 2016 $15,571,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request for Public Awareness and Support is $15.6 million, an increase of 

$2.1 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. These funds will support the President’s Now is

the Time initiative and allow SAMHSA to continue to streamline our web presence, develop 

innovative mobile apps, expand SAMHSA’s presence on social media, and provide other critical

resources to support behavioral health and other health. SAMHSA will use $2.0 million to

support the Science of Changing Social Norms, to develop and test an array of messages designed

to improve social acceptance of people with mental and substance use disorders; expand

understanding of the health, economic, and social impact of untreated behavioral health

conditions; increase the willingness of Americans to seek help for these issues; and help

Americans see behavioral health as a public health priority.

260 
Mechanism Table

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity

FY2014

Final

No. Amount

FY2015

Enacted

No. Amount

FY2016

President's

Budget

No. Amount

Public Awareness

Grants

Continuations

and Support

--- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations 6 13,482 5 11,020 5 12,093

New/Competing --- --- 1 2,462 2 3,478

Subtotal 6 13,482 6 13,482 7 15,571

Total, Public Awareness and Support 6 13,482 6 13,482 7 15,571

261 
Outputs and Outcomes Table

Program: Public Awareness and Support

NOTE: SAMHSA grant awards are made late in the year. Therefore, the FY 2016 targets are based on the FY 2015 Enacted

Level and the FY 2017 targets are based on the FY 2016 President’s Budget.

Measure Year and Most Recent Result/

Target for Recent 

Result

(Summary of Result)

FY 2016

Target

FY 2017

Target

FY 2017

Target

+/-

FY 2016

Target

2.3.76 Number of persons receiving

prevention information indirectly

fromadvertising, broadcast, or

website (Output)

FY 2013: 18,966,150

Target:

1,250,000

(Target Exceeded)

Discontinued1 Discontinued N/A

4.4.12 Number of individuals

referred for behavioral health

treatment resources. (Output)

FY 2013: 365,919

Target:

310,000

(Target Exceeded)

310,000 350,000 +40,000

4.4.13 Total number of interactions

through phone inquiries, e-blasts,

dissemination of SAMHSA

publications, and total website hits

(Output)

FY 2013: 25,793,007

(Historical Actual)

33,000,000 34,320,000 +1,320,000

1

Measure was discontinued due to change in data source and replaced with measure 4.4.13.

262 
Performance and Quality Information Systems

(Dollars in thousands)

ProgramActivity

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Program Level $12,918 $12,918 $12,918 $---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 12,918 +12,918 

Authorizing Legislation ........... Section 501, 509, 516, and 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

Performance and Quality Information Systems (PQIS) provides continuous support for the 

performance measurement efforts with quality improvement activities and promotes greater

efficiencies in the collection, analysis, and reporting of data and other information to facilitate

accountability, clarity in outcomes measures, and improvements in the quality and accessibility

of data and other information for use by program staff, grantees, and the public. In FY 2014, 

funding supported a new contract for the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and

Practices (NREPP) to reduce the backlog of interventions accepted and pending review. NREPP

is a searchable online system that provides states, tribes, and communities with tools for

identifying and implementing evidence-based mental health promotion, substance abuse

prevention, and substance abuse and mental health treatment interventions. 

Due to unanticipated delays, PQIS funding in FY 2014 was used for the continued creation of 

SAMHSA’s Common Data Platform (CDP), which will provide a uniform collection and

reporting system for SAMHSA management and staff with the ability to analyze programs at

various levels (state, program, community, etc.), provide each Center with tailored information 

in real-time about the progress and activities of their grantees, and provide data to grantees to

support them in the efficient and effective implementation of projects. Funding from PQIS also

will fund the continuation of all three Center legacy programs, Services Accountability 

Improvement System (SAIS), Transformation Accountability System (TRAC), and Data

Collection, Analyses, and Reporting (DCAR), while the CDP is phased in. 

Other SAMHSA activities related to the implementation of the Strategic Initiative on Data,

Quality and Outcomes included the development of the National Behavioral Health Quality

Framework, stemming from the National Quality Strategy recently released by the Agency for

Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) in cooperation with the Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information

Technology (ONC); and coordination with Health Information Technology efforts and

Meaningful Use Measures for application in electronic health records, led by ONC and Centers

for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These activities were substantially completed in

FY 2014 and will move to regular operations beginning in FY 2015. 

263 
In FY 2015, funds will be used to continue support for the CDP, which was awarded in FY 2013 

and implemented in FY 2014, as well as provide support for the continuation of NREPP. Funding

for Grantee Data Development Technical Assistance (TA) will increase to $5.0 million in FY 

2015 and continue to fund a support contract and TA Team for an integrated approach to

performance and quality data collection and reporting, including support of regional data

coordinators. This increased funding from FY 2014 supports further analysis which suggests the 

need for a continued investment in the technical assistance support for agency grantees.

Funding for PQIS includes $1.5 million for Operations. The operations budget funds the 

administrative costs, support costs for CBHSQ programs, and interagency agreements.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 $12,940,413

FY 2013 $8,803,289

FY 2014 $12,918,000

FY 2015 $12,918,000

FY 2016 $12,918,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $12.9 million for Performance and Quality Information

Systems, which is level with the FY 2015 Enacted Level. SAMHSA will use these funds to

continue support for the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP),

Common Data Platform (CDP) and Grantee Data Development Technical Assistance.

264 
Mechanism Table

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

FY2016

President's

Program Activity

No. Amount No. Amount Budget

No. Amount

PerformanceandQualityInformationSystems

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations 4 9,959 3 12,918 3 12,918

New/Competing 1 2,959 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 5 12,918 3 12,918 3 12,918

Total,PerformanceandQualityInformationSystems 5 12,918 3 12,918 3 12,918

265 
Outputs and Outcomes Table 

Program: Performance and Quality Improvement Systems

1, 2 There is no delay between fiscal year funding and the performance year.

Measure

Year and Most Recent 

Result/Target for Recent

Result 

(Summary of Result)

FY 2015

Target

FY 2016

Target

FY 2016

Target

+/- 

FY 2015

Target

4.4.10 Increase the combined count of webpage hits, 

hits to the locator, and hits to Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Data Archive (SAMHDA) for 

SAMHSA-supported data sets (Output) 

FY 2014:

1,745,1331

Target: 

1,882,149

(Target Not Met)

2,390,402 2,390,402 Maintain

4.4.11 Number of evidence-based

practices in review (Output)

programs or FY 2014: 512

Target: 

48

(Target Exceeded)

55 55 -5

266 
Agency-Wide Initiatives

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget 

FY 2016 

+/- 

FY 2015 

Agency-Wide Initiatives $45,583 $46,669 $77,669 +$31,000 

Behavioral Health Workforce 45,583 46,669 77,669 +31,000

Minority Fellowship Program (non-add) 10,669 10,669 10,669 ---

Minority Fellowship Program- Base (non-add) 1/ 5,423 5,423 5,423 ---

Minority Fellowship Program- Youth/Addictions Counselor (non-add) 5,246 5,246 5,246 ---

Peer Professional Workforce Development (non-add) --- --- 10,000 +10,000

SAMHSA-HRSA BHWET Grant Program (non-add) 34,914 35,000 56,000 +21,000

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development (non-add) --- 1,000 1,000 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- 1,000 1,000 ---

1/TheMinorityFellowshipProgrambudgetsfromtheMH,SAP,andSATappropriationsare reflectedunderthe

Workforceinitiativeandprioryearshavebeencomparablyadjusted.

Authorizing Legislation ........... Section 501, 509, 516, and 520A of the Public Health Service Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ....................................Competitive Grants/Contracts/Cooperative Agreements

Eligible Entities........................... Community Colleges, Networks, States, National Organizations

Program Description and Accomplishments

Behavioral Health Workforce

Minority Fellowship Program

As SAMHSA implements the Leading Change 2.0 Strategic Initiatives for 2015-2018, the new

Strategic Initiative on Workforce Development provides the opportunity for a concerted focus on

developing the behavioral health workforce.

SAMHSA’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) increases behavioral health practitioners’

knowledge of issues related to prevention, treatment and recovery support for mental and

substance use disorders among racial and ethnic minority populations. Additionally, it aims to

improve the quality of mental and substance use disorder prevention and treatment delivered to

ethnic minorities by providing stipends to post-graduate students. This funding will increase the 

number of culturally competent behavioral health professionals who teach, administer, conduct

services research, and provide direct mental health/substance abuse services to underserved 

minority populations. Since its start in 1973, the MFP has helped to enhance services to racial

and ethnic minority communities through specialized training of mental health professionals in

psychiatry, nursing, social work, and psychology, and since 2006, marriage and family therapy.

These individuals often serve in key leadership positions in mental and substance use disorder 

services, services supervision, services research, training, and administration. In FY 2012, 

267 
SAMHSA received additional funding to increase the pool of culturally competent mental health

professionals eligible to receive funds through this program to include professional counselors.

In FY 2014 SAMHSA funded continuation grants and in FY 2015, SAMHSA anticipates funding 

continuation grants.

In previous years, MFP activities were spread through CMHS, CSAP, and CSAT. SAMHSA is

realigning the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) to Agency-Wide Initiatives to more

effectively and efficiently administer these workforce programs. The focus on building the 

components of the mental health, substance use prevention and substance use treatment

workforce will be maintained through a strengthened collaboration. 

Minority Fellowship Program Expansion - Youth (MFP-Y) and Addiction Counselors

(MFP-AC)

In FY 2014, funding was provided to expand the focus of the current MFP to support master’s

level trained behavioral health providers in the fields of psychology, social work, professional 

counseling, marriage and family therapy, and nursing. This expansion of the four-year program

is called the Minority Fellowship Program-Youth (MFP-Y). The purpose of this grant program

is to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health care outcomes for racially and

ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent master’s level

behavioral health professionals serving children, adolescents, and populations in transition to

adulthood (aged 16 to 25) in an effort to increase access to, and the quality of, behavioral health

care for this age group. MFP-Y uses the existing infrastructure of the MFP to expand the focus

of the program to support 960 master’s level trained behavioral health providers in the fields of 

psychology, social work, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, and nursing.

The FY 2015 Budget included $5.3 million for MFP-Y to continue providing stipends to graduate

students to increase the number of culturally competent behavioral health professionals who

provide direct mental health and/or co-occurring substance abuse services to underserved 

minority populations. 

In addition, in FY 2014, funding was provided to expand the focus of the current MFP to support 

master’s level addiction counselors (MFP-AC). The purpose of this four-year grant program is

to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health care outcomes for racially and

ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent master’s level

addiction counselors available to underserved minority populations with a specific focus on 

transition age youth (ages 16 to 25) in public and private non-profit sectors. MFP-AC grants will

support students pursuing master’s level degrees in addiction/substance abuse counseling. The

MFP-AC grants support graduate student stipends to increase the number of masters-level

addiction counselors across the nation by approximately 300 counselors. Funds also supported 

evaluation and technical assistance for these grantees.

268 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

 FY 2012 $5,706,195 

FY 2013 $5,436,000 

FY 2014 $10,669,000 

FY 2015 $10,669,000 

FY 2016 $10,669,000 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $10.7 million, which is the same as the FY 2015 Enacted Level

to provide continued support for both base and expansion activities. The funds will support six

MFPs, two MFP-Y, two MFP-AC grants, and three technical assistance and evaluation support 

contracts.

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and

Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 will extend federal parity protections to over 60 

million Americans. Of them, over 30 million will gain coverage that includes mental health and

substance use disorder treatment, and an additional 30 million who already have some coverage

of these services will see their coverage enhanced.66 These estimates take into account the states’

decisions on whether to participate in the expansion of Medicaid.

As of June 2014, there were more than 4,000 Mental Health, Health Professional Shortage Areas

(HPSAs) in the United States, containing nearly a third of the American population (96 million

people). Recent data indicate that almost 90 percent of persons with substance use disorders do 

not receive the services they need and over half of those with mental disorders do not receive

needed treatment.

The President’s Now is the Time initiative, supports new activities to expand the behavioral

health workforce. In FY 2015, the new workforce investments provide support for approximately

3,500 new behavioral health professionals. To ensure the existing workforce investments are

achieving desired outcomes, SAMHSA workforce activities in FY 2015 include 

$1.0 million within the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) to partner

with HRSA on the Behavioral Health Minimum Data Set to develop consistent data collection

methods to identify and track behavioral health workforce needs. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will

continue to work with HRSA to develop a consistent and common data set and to develop clear

goals and objectives to meet the national behavioral health workforce needs in America.

66 Beronio K, Glied S, Frank R. How the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

Greatly Expand Coverage of Behavioral Health Care. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 41:4,

October 2014.

269 
Funding History

Peer Professional Workforce Development

The Peer Professional Workforce Development program’s goal is to increase the number of 

trained peers, recovery coaches, mental health/addiction specialists, prevention specialists, and

pre-masters-level addiction counselors working with youth ages 16 to 25. Because they have 

lived through their own experience with behavioral health conditions, the entry-level providers 

supported by this program will play a significant role in the delivery of prevention, outreach,

engagement, and recovery support services. Evidence has found that people who regularly engage

in peer-delivered interventions are more likely to abstain from substance abuse. While the 

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program focuses on supporting clinical

internships, field placements, and certificate program completion across a range of professional 

and paraprofessional disciplines (some of whom may be peers), the Peer Professional Workforce

Development program will focus on helping communities develop the infrastructure to train and

certify peers, or people with personal experiences with mental illness and/or substance use 

conditions as behavioral health providers. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 ---

FY 2016 $10,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes $10.0 million for the new Peer Professionals Workforce

Development program, which will award up to 19 grants to provide tuition support and further

the capacity of community colleges to develop and sustain behavioral health paraprofessional 

training and education programs, resulting in 1,200 additional peer professionals in the

behavioral health workforce.

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 ---

FY 2015 $1,000,000 

FY 2016 $1,000,000 

270 
SAMHSA-HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Grant

Program

In FY 2014, SAMHSA and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

collaborated on the BHWET Grant Program. The purpose of this program is to increase the

clinical service capacity of the behavioral health workforce by supporting training for masterslevel social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, psychology doctoral interns,

as well as behavioral health paraprofessionals. In FY 2014, the grant program provided 

approximately 120 awards to organizations nationwide and SAMHSA’s FY 2015 Budget 

Request included continued funding in the amount of $35.0 million to maintain this effort. The

SAMHSA-HRSA BHWET grant program will help increase the behavioral health workforce by

3,500 individuals each year.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount

FY 2012 ---

FY 2013 ---

FY 2014 $34,914,000 

FY 2015 $35,000,000 

FY 2016 $56,000,000 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes an increase of $21.0 million over the FY 2015 Enacted

Level to expand the behavioral health workforce. The $56.0 million program will award a total

192 grants, an increase of 72 grants over FY 2015, and will support the addition of 

approximately 5,600 health professionals to the workforce, an increase of 2,100 individuals over 

FY 2015 levels. SAMHSA’s collective workforce efforts will help add several thousand new

professionals to the workforce each year.

271 
Mechanism Table

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Activity

Agency-Wide Initiatives

FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget 

BEHAVIORALHEALTHWORKFORCE:

Minority 1/ FellowshipProgram-Base

Grants

Continuations

--- --- 6 4,796 6 4,776

New/Competing 6 4,764 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 6 4,764 6 4,796 6 4,776

Contracts

Continuations --- --- 1 627 1 647

New/Competing 1 659 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 1 659 1 627 1 647

Total,MFP-Base 7 5,423 7 5,423 7 5,423

Minority Fellowship

Grants

Program-Youth

Continuations --- --- 7 4,314 7 4,267

New/Competing 4 4,261 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 4 4,261 7 4,314 7 4,267

Contracts

Continuations --- --- 2 932 2 979

New/Competing --- 985 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 985 2 932 2 979

Total, MFP-Youth 4 5,246 9 5,246 9 5,246

PeerProfessionals Workforce Development

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- 19 9,343

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- 19 9,343

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- 657

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- 657

Total, PPWD --- --- --- --- 19 10,000

SAMHSA-HRSA

Grants

MBHETGrantProgram

Continuations --- --- 110 30,100 192 48,160

New/Competing 110 30,100 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal 110 30,100 110 30,100 192 48,160

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- 4,900 --- 7,840

New/Competing --- 4,814 --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- 4,814 --- 4,900 --- 7,840

Total, SAMHSA-HRSA BehavioralHealthWorkforce

110 34,914 110 35,000 192 Education andTraining (BHWET) Grant Program 56,000

BehavioralHealthWorkforce Data andDevelopment

Grants

Continuations --- --- --- --- --- ---

New/Competing --- --- --- --- --- ---

Subtotal --- --- --- --- --- ---

Contracts

Continuations --- --- --- --- 1 1,000

New/Competing --- --- 1 1,000 --- ---

Subtotal --- --- 1 1,000 1 1,000

Total, Behavioral Health Workforce Data andDevelopment --- --- 1 1,000 1 1,000

Subtotal,BEHAVIORALHEALTHWORKFORCE: 121 45,583 127 46,669 228 77,669

Total, Agency-Wide: 121 45,583 127 46,669 228 77,669

272 

 1/The Minority Fellowship Program budget is reflected within the Health Surveillance and Program Support appropriation 

under the Agency-wide Initiatives Workforce program as is consistent with the FY 2015 and FY 2016 Budget Requests. 
SAMHSA

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ)

Table of Contents

1. SAMHSA/Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ)..................... 275

2. Surveillance and Data Collection.................................................................................... 278

3. Evaluation ....................................................................................................................... 283

4. Statistical and Analytic Support ...................................................................................... 284

5. Services Systems Research ............................................................................................. 285

6. Performance and Quality Information Systems .............................................................. 285

7. Agency-Wide Initiatives ................................................................................................. 287

273 
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274 
SAMHSA/Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ)

(Dollars in thousands) 

Program Activity FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget 

FY 2016 

+/- 

FY 2015 

Substance Abuse Treatment Appropriation

Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) Set Aside

Budget Authority

SAMHSA's Emergency Department Surveillance System (SEDSS) 

formerly Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) 375 --- --- ---

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) --- 601 601 ---

Data Collection and Evaluation Activities 83 --- --- ---

Subtotal, Budget Authority 458 601 601 ---

PHS Evaluation Funds

NSDUH 42,709 38,331 38,331 ---

Analytic Support Center (ASC) formerly National Analytic 

(NAC)

Center 1,000 1,000 1,000 ---

Drug & Alcohol Services Information System 

Health Services Information System (BHSIS)

(DASIS)/Behavioral 2,000 3,972 3,972 ---

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive (SAMHDA) 1,291 1,291 1,291 ---

Community Behavioral Health Data Initiative 7,967 7,000 5,750 -1,250

Community Early Warning and 

(non-add)

Monitoring System (C-EMS) 3,000 --- --- ---

SEDSS (formerly DAWN) (non-add) 4,625 4,000 4,500 500

Program Studies on Treatment and Recovery (PSTAR) (non-add) 342 3,000 1,250 -1,750

Data Collection and Evaluation Activities 579 --- --- ---

Operations 221 702 201 -501

FTE Payroll 3,455 5,371 7,122 1,751 

Subtotal, PHS Evaluation Funds 59,223 57,667 57,667 ---

Subtotal, SABG Set Aside 59,681 58,268 58,268 ---

Health Surveillance and Program Support Appropriation 

Health Surveillance

Budget Authority

NSDUH 4,603 13,794 --- -13,794

Grantee Data Development Technical Assistance (GDTA) 3,500 --- --- ---

ASC (formerly NAC) 1,000 --- --- ---

Community Behavioral Health Data Initiative 1,000 2,000 --- -2,000

C-EMS (non-add) 1,000 2,000 --- -2,000

Content Migration 3,538 --- --- ---

Innovation and Logistical Services Support 811 --- --- ---

Data Collection and Evaluation Activities 1,157 --- --- ---

Operations 1,221 1,036 --- -1,036

Subtotal, Budget Authority 16,830 16,830 --- -16,830

PHS Evaluation Funds

(National 

Practices 

Registry for Evidence 

NREPP)

Based Programs and --- 2,212 1,103 -1,110

BHSIS (formerly DASIS) 18,983 17,028 17,028 ---

ASC (formerly NAC) 670 2,000 1,012 -988

Science of Changing Social Norms: Building the Evidence Base --- --- 2,000 2,000 

Community Behavioral Health Data Initiative 458 1,000 --- -1,000

C-EMS (non-add) --- 1,000 --- -1,000

PSTAR (non-add) 458 --- --- ---

Data Collection and Evaluation Activities 2,262 --- --- ---

Content Migration 2,995 --- --- ---

Operations 979 1,190 1,118 -72

FTE Payroll 4,080 6,998 7,168 170 

Subtotal, PHS Evaluation Funds $30,428 $30,428 $29,428 -1,000

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Program Activity FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget 

FY 2016 

+/- 

FY 2015 

Prevention and Public Health Fund

ASC (formerly NAC) --- --- 1,008 1,008 

NSDUH --- --- 13,795 13,795 

NREPP --- --- 940 940 

Community Behavioral Health Data Initiative --- --- 3,000 3,000 

C-EMS (non-add) --- --- 3,000 3,000

Operations --- --- 1,257 1,257

Subtotal, Prevention and Public Health Fund --- --- 20,000 20,000 

Subtotal, Health Surveillance 47,258 47,258 49,428 2,170

Performance and Quality Information System (PQIS)

Budget Authority

NREPP 2,959 1,288 --- -1,288

Common Data Platform (CDP) 1,400 5,000 --- -5,000

CDP Legacy Program: Service Accountability Improvement System (SAIS) and 

Transformation Accountability System (TRAC) 3,925 --- --- ---

CDP Legacy Program: Data Collection, Analyses, and Reporting (DCAR) --- 5,000 --- -5,000

GDTA --- 5,000 --- -1,288

Data Collection and Evaluation Activities 995 --- --- ---

Operations 768 1,630 --- -1,630

Subtotal, Budget Authority 12,918 12,918 --- -12,918

PHS Evaluation Funds

NREPP --- --- 1,463 1,463 

CDP --- --- 5,000 5,000 

GDTA --- --- 5,000 5,000

Operations --- --- 1,455 1,455 

Subtotal, Budget Authority 12,918 12,918 --- -12,918

Agency-Wide Initiatives

PHS Evaluation Funds

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development --- 965 966 1

Operations --- 35 34 -1

Subtotal, Agency-Wide Initiatives --- 1,000 1,000 ---

Subtotal, Health Surveillance and Program Support $60,176 $61,176 $63,346 2,170

Total, CBHSQ* 119,857 119,444 121,614 2,170 

*Totals may not add due to rounding.

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Resources by Activity

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2016 FY 2016

Program Activity

FY 2014

Final

FY 2015

Enacted

President's

Budget

+/- 

FY 2015

CBHSQ Activities

NSDUH $47,312 $52,726 $52,727 +$1

DASIS/BHSIS 20,983 21,000 21,000 ---

CBHSQ Logistics and ASC 2,670 3,000 3,020 +20

SAMHDA/Data Archive 1,291 1,291 1,291 ---

CDP 1,400 5,000 5,000 ---

Grantee Data Development Technical Assistance 3,500 5,000 5,000 ---

CDP Legacy Programs (DCAR) 2,871 --- --- ---

CDP Legacy Programs (SAIS) and (TRAC) 3,925 --- --- ---

NREPP 2,959 3,500 3,505 +5

Science of Changing Social Norms: Building the Evidence --- --- 2,000 +2,000

Community Behavioral Health Data Initiative 9,800 10,000 8,750 -1,250

C-EMS (non-add) 4,000 3,000 3,000 ---

SEDSS (formerly DAWN)(non-add) 5,000 4,000 4,500 +500

PSTAR (non-add) 800 3,000 1,250 -1,750

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development --- 965 966 +1

Materials Development --- --- --- ---

Content Migration 6,533 --- --- ---

Innovation and Logistical Services Support 811 --- --- ---

Data Collection and Evaluation Activities 5,076 --- --- ---

Operations 3,190 4,593 4,065 -528

CBHSQ FTE Payroll 7,536 12,369 14,290 +1,921

Total, CBHSQ* $119,857 $119,444 $121,614 +$2,170

*Totals may not add due to rounding.

Authorizing Legislation ...........................................Sections 501, 505, 1911, 1921 of the PHS Act

FY 2016 Authorization .........................................................................................................Expired 

Allocation Method ............................................................................................................. Contracts

Eligible Entities......................................................................................................... Not Applicable

Program Description and Accomplishments

In FY 2015, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) continues 

the streamlining efforts to improve data, outcomes, and quality by realigning a number of data

and analytic activities within the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ).

By creating an integrated data strategy and a national framework for quality improvement in

behavioral healthcare, CBHSQ helps inform policy, measure program impacts, and lead efforts

to improve quality of services and outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and tribal

communities. This realignment improves accountability and transparency in the development 

and dissemination of information to support the behavioral health care delivery system.

There continue to be five major functions coordinated through CBHSQ that provide significant

support to SAMHSA’s integrated data strategy: surveillance and data collection; evaluation;

statistical and analytic support; service systems research; and performance and quality 

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information systems. CBHSQ also supports SAMHSA’s efforts to increase public access to

data.

In FY 2013, SAMHSA ended or modified several contracts to achieve greater efficiency. This

was the culmination of a comprehensive review of SAMHSA’s contracts conducted in FY 2011 

that determined that many mission-critical contracted activities would be less expensive to

accomplish by insourcing, resulting in hiring approximately 36 positions in FY 2014. 

Funding in FY 2016 includes $4.1 million in Operations and $14.3 million in FTE Payroll to

support the administrative costs and support of CBHSQ personnel, programs and interagency

agreements. Funding also supports the phasing in of the programs full complement of 88 FTEs

over FY 2014, FY 2015, and FY 2016. SAMHSA proposes to hire 10 additional FTEs in FY 

2015 in response to growing responsibility for providing data support needs within the

agency. These FTEs include staff that will be assigned to support the Grantee Data Technical

Assistance (GDTA) project, state and community data TA support, additional data collection

activities across the public behavioral health surveys supported within CBHSQ, and two

additional staff to provide statistical and data programming support. 

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request for Health Surveillance Initiative is $2.0 million. This additional

funding supports the President’s Now is the Time initiative. Specifically, this funding will be 

used for a new initiative, Science of Changing Social Norms: Building the Evidence, to measure

and track attitudes, behaviors and community norms regarding mental health and substance

abuse. These data will enable SAMHSA to understand more fully the impact of social messaging,

improve social acceptance of people with mental and substance use disorders; expand

understanding of the health, economic, and social impact of untreated behavioral health

conditions; increase the willingness of Americans to seek help for these issues; and help

Americans see behavioral health as a public health priority. The Science of Changing Social

Norms will have a second component, Social Media, funded from Public Awareness and Support. 

Surveillance and Data Collection

SAMHSA manages a number of critical behavioral health data systems for the Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS) that provide high quality data on the incidence and

prevalence of mental and substance use disorders, the use of emergency and specialty care, and

more recently, local indicators of behavioral health status of communities.

National Surveillance and Data Collection

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) serves as the nation’s primary source 

for information on the incidence and prevalence of mental and substance use disorders and

related health conditions. A new NSDUH contract was awarded in FY 2013 that will support the

annual surveys through FY 2017, pending the availability of funds. NSDUH’s funding in FY 

2013 was $54.8 million and FY 2014 was $47.3 million. In addition to those amounts, 

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SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) provides approximately $1.0 million a 

year for NSDUH to support mental health-related data collection.

SAMHSA's authorization stipulates that SAMHSA provide estimates of serious emotional

disturbances (SED) among children. A pilot study done jointly by SAMHSA, National Institute

of Mental Health (NIMH), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), using CDC's National

Health Interview Survey (NHIS) yielded important preliminary results that have guided ongoing 

work to extend the development of definitions and procedures, taking into account new mental

disorder criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

This entailed the development of a valid diagnostic clinical interview tool for children, and the 

determination of an operational definition of SED. In addition, CBHSQ partnered with the 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and the Institute of 

Medicine (IOM) to provide a comprehensive review and to make recommendations for

integrating the full-range of behavioral health conditions into the NSDUH including possible 

development and methods to produce credible estimates of SED within the NSDUH survey 

framework.

In FY 2015, funding for NSDUH and NSDUH-related activities is expected to be $52.7 million.

This funding represents a continuation of the new contract awarded in FY 2013, survey 

technology purchases and the development and pilot testing of the trauma, recovery, and serious

emotional disturbance among children modules that may be developed for the NSDUH. Also, in

response to Congressional recommendations, SAMHSA will explore the feasibility of

incorporating Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and U.S. territories into the NSDUH data

collection efforts. During FY 2015, development work will begin to determine how such efforts

could be effectively included in future surveys and short- and long-term costs. SAMHSA

intends to continue funding for NSDUH in FY 2016 at the same level as FY 2015. 

Behavioral Health Services Information System (BHSIS)

(Formerly Drug Abuse Services Information System/ Behavioral Health Services Information System)

In FY 2013, SAMHSA modified the Drug Abuse Services Information System (DASIS)

contract, which became the new Behavioral Health Services Information System (BHSIS).

DASIS/BHSIS is the primary source of data on substance abuse treatment facilities and treatment

admissions. One aspect of this program is the treatment locator, which is accessed more than

two million times a year by individuals, families, community groups, and organizations to

identify appropriate treatment services. In FY 2014, SAMHSA posted a new up-to-date

Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator that provides accurate, timely, and regularly

updated information on mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities across the

country. The Services Locator was fully integrated in FY 2014 ahead of schedule. Also in FY 

2014, CBHSQ collaborated with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for

the inclusion of health center locator information into the treatment locator. CBHSQ will also

explore during FY 2015 the potential for integrating buprenorphine providers and National

Health Corps Facilities into the Services Locator. In addition, SAMHSA implemented a 

coordinated strategy for conducting the substance abuse and mental health facility surveys in

FY 2014. Funding from Health Surveillance and Public Health Service (PHS) Evaluation Funds

in FY 2013 and FY 2014 provided $17.0 million and $21.0 million respectively for BHSIS. In

addition, CMHS provided $7.1 million in FY 2013 and $7.5 million in FY 2014. SAMHSA

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intends to continue funding for BHSIS in FY 2015 at the same level as FY 2014. SAMHSA will

continue the transition from DASIS to BHSIS in FY 2016. Funding for BHSIS in FY 2016 will

remain at the same level as FY 2015. 

Community Behavioral Health Data Initiative (CDI)

Data collected from local communities are used to design and deliver programs and services, and

are an important component of a strong public health infrastructure. Much of SAMHSA’s

current data effort is captured and reported at the national or state level. Information on the

health and behavioral health at the community level serves to identify current and emerging

problems and highlight opportunities for progress that may vary from larger geographical areas.

Importantly, when communities have access to surveillance data over time, communities can

then direct targeted prevention efforts at the vulnerable populations. Under the Community 

Behavioral Health Data Initiative (CDI) structure, SAMHSA more closely coordinates the three

separate existing data efforts, the Community Early Warning and Monitoring System (C-EMS),

SAMHSA’s Emergency Department Surveillance System (SEDSS) (formerly the Drug Abuse 

Warning Network (DAWN)), and the Program Studies on Treatment and Recovery (PSTAR), to

create new opportunities for cross-agency and public-private partnerships to address critical

public health questions and more effectively use existing or declining resources. Data from this

coordinated initiative can be combined with data from other agencies such as Center for Medicare

and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and

then be reported by regional and community type. Moreover, the longitudinal nature of these

data will allow those evaluating the effectiveness of services and policies in a community to

measure the impact and outcomes of those interventions. SAMHSA will continue to examine

where in-sourcing additional staff and collaborations with other agencies can support this effort

while maximizing limited resources and cost efficiencies. One such collaborative effort initially

funded in FY 2013 at $3.0 million and continued in FY 2014 with $4.0 million is a partnership 

with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that funded cooperative extension sites to

develop and collect community-level behavioral health indicators that can inform prevention and

early intervention efforts. The pilot program was expanded in FY 2014 in concert with USDA

and a report is expected late in calendar year 2014 that will serve as the basis for development of 

the next phase of this project, which expands to a greater number of sites.

In FY 2015, CDI’s $10.5 million funding will support the development and integration of the 

C-EMS, SEDSS, and PSTAR data collection programs.

In FY 2016, funding for CDI decreases to $8.8 million and will continue to support C-EMS at

the same level as FY 2015. SEDSS funding increases to $4.5 million to continue the support of 

its development and integration. PSTAR funding decreases to $1.3 million.

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Community Early Warning and Monitoring System (C-EMS)

The foundation of SAMHSA’s community-based work begun in the Community Early Warning 

and Monitoring System (C-EMS) provides the basis for community data development in FY 

2015. CBHSQ will further develop the data system that began in FY 2012 in collaboration with

AHRQ of community level data collection related to emergency departments. This expanded

collaboration will engage additional federal partners (USDA and National Institute of Health’s

Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) to apply data from resources at the local, state, and

national levels to populate a database available to communities to develop data tables and reports

for use in surveillance of the behavioral health status of local communities. Moreover, CBHSQ

will consider developing data toolkits with survey measures and instructions in the use of these

measures, as well as technical assistance in sampling and survey deployment, to assist

communities interested in conducting local behavioral/public health surveillance. These data may

be uploaded to a community behavioral health database that SAMHSA and contributing

communities may use to understand community behavioral health needs and changes over time.

CBHSQ provided $3.0 million in FY 2013 and $4.0 million in FY 2014 and plans to provide

another $3.0 million in FY 2015 and FY 2016 to expand their current inter- agency agreement

(IAA) with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/National Institute of Food

and Agriculture (NIFA) and other community data resources to develop and collect communitylevel data through their cooperative extension programs.

SAMHSA’s Emergency Department Surveillance System (SEDSS)

Emergency Department (ED) data remains an important component of public health data because

it provides a picture of the most urgent health and behavioral health issues, in the community. 

ED data is an excellent tool for monitoring trends in mental and substance use disorders and

related conditions, and when examined across the nation, provides important surveillance for

targeting emerging behavioral health issues. As the SAMHSA Emergency Department

Surveillance System (SEDSS) initiates data collection in many hospitals in a variety of 

communities, ED data can provide a summary of visits by patients with mental health conditions

and substance use problems. By collaborating with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics

(NCHS), SAMHSA has an opportunity to understand more comprehensively the nature and

course of behavioral health presentations to ED’s. Thus, SEDSS, which is replacing the Drug

Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), will collect ED visit information on both mental and

substance use disorders. The development of the SEDSS started when CBHSQ provided 

$5.0 million to NCHS in FY 2012 for planning and development. CBHSQ added $3.8 million to

the activity in FY 2013 for continued development and to expand the implementation. In FY 

2014, CBHSQ provided another $5.0 million and intends to fund $4.0 million in FY 2015 and

$4.5 million in FY 2016 to fully implement data collection efforts. As SEDSS continues,

SAMHSA will also consider other recruitment protocols to increase hospital participation and

maximize resources.

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Program Studies on Treatment and Recovery (PSTAR)

With the implementation of health reform, behavioral health and primary care service networks 

can expect significant changes in terms of how the mix of services are financed, changes in the 

locus of behavioral health and primary care services, and an increase in certain populations with

mental and substance use disorders that had not previously been treated in primary care and

behavioral health specialty programs (e.g., veterans, youth involved in the criminal justice system,

and individuals with co-occurring mental health, substance use, and physical health

conditions). 

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded a new contract, the Analytic Support Center, which will include 

support for a feasibility study to assess the best and most cost-effective ways to implement the 

PSTAR program. Of special interest is furthering an understanding of how local variations may

impact special populations of interest (e.g., veterans, minorities, and individuals with cooccurring conditions). 

It is expected that PSTAR will become a public health resource that works in concert with the 

other data initiatives under the CDI as well as NSDUH, other facility data systems, and ongoing 

analytic projects within CBHSQ to respond to critical questions related to health reform

implementation, parity, program effectiveness, financing, and access. In FY 2014, CBHSQ

provided $0.8 million for planning and development activities.

In FY 2015, as part of the Analytic Support Center contract, CBHSQ plans to provide

$3.0 million to phase in implementation of the PSTAR survey. 

In FY 2016, funding for PSTAR decreases to $1.3 million. The results of a FY 2014 funded 

feasibility study of options for implementing the PSTAR survey will be available in FY 2015, 

and the initiation of the project will likely be more incremental than originally envisioned, thus

requiring fewer funds in FY 2016. 

Data Collection and Evaluation Activities

In FY 2014, SAMHSA provided $5.1 million for data collection and evaluation activities. This

includes expanding the pilot efforts with C-EMS; pilot implementation of a data room for use by

agency research staff to access confidential data in a secure environment; a pilot study to collect

behavioral health data from electronic health records (EHR); and a pilot project with the Epidemic

Intelligence Service (EIS) of the CDC. This project will secure an EIS graduate to identify

and address public health outbreaks related to behavioral health including the sudden increase

in deaths due to heroin laced with fentanyl and increases in heroin in specific communities. In

FY 2015, the Data Collection and Evaluation Activities funds will be integrated into normal

operations. 

282 
Evaluation

Consistent with the Administration’s increased emphasis on the use of rigorous and independent 

program evaluation to determine if programs achieve intended outcomes at a reasonable cost,

SAMHSA will continue to support the systematic collection of data to assess its investments in

discretionary and block grant programs. The evaluation policy was finalized in early 2012. In

late 2012, CBHSQ conducted a review of all SAMHSA’s evaluation activities. This process 

helped SAMHSA identify current evaluations which could be enhanced or improved with support 

from in-house evaluation expertise. For all new SAMHSA program activity in which an evaluation

is proposed, CBHSQ meets with program staff and the SAMHSA Evaluation Team to gather

information about planned evaluation activities, program objectives, and budget estimates for

evaluation. During this period, CBHSQ reviews the planned grant or contract language to ensure

there is sufficient description of evaluation and data collection plans. CBHSQ’s roles vary,

and may include: 1) conducting an evaluation; 2) co-directing an evaluation using a contractor

to gather data and assist with report writing; or 3) serving as a consultant as needed on evaluations

that are directed by an originating Center within SAMHSA. CBHSQ has been actively

engaged in evaluation design and implementation. In FY 2014, CBHSQ continued 

implementation of the evaluation guidance and began to provide training in evaluation design to

relevant SAMHSA staff.

Through its evaluation guidance, SAMHSA proposes to expand its efforts to improve the quality 

of information on behavioral health investments by:

• providing uniform standards for evaluations,

• supporting rigorous evaluation designs,

• building a cadre of trained evaluators to oversee evaluations,

• providing a structure to assess environmental contexts that promote or impede program

effectiveness,

• allowing for designs that enable adaptation and adjustments in the implementation

process,

• producing timely results for decision makers, and

• creating an accessible, central repository for information related to SAMHSA

evaluations.

SAMHSA proposes the following areas of focus within its evaluation program:

• testing new policies as implemented in service programming,

• examining the impact of changes in policies that have evolved from either practitioner led

or SAMHSA led changes in programming,

• testing guidelines for translating or disseminating services and policies to the field, e.g.,

standards for enrollment or EHR interoperability, and

• evaluating the effectiveness of policies or service practices on quality, cost, and outcomes

(payer, provider and population).

283 
SAMHSA will undertake evaluations that advance the behavioral health of the nation. Data will

be collected in order to answer specific policy and practice questions as outlined above. The

decision criteria for proceeding with new evaluations include consideration of the following: 

• Is this a new program or a program where there have been significant changes that may

lead to improved or different outcomes?

• If not a new program but a new cohort of grantees, is there a specific question that can be 

answered by tracking trends within the program? 

• If not a new program or cohort, is there value to examining all or part of the program that

will expand the evidence base for work conducted in that specific area?

• If not a new program or cohort, is there value in examining the program to determine if

continuing the program will achieve relevant outcomes in support of SAMHSA’s

mission?

SAMHSA will continue to move forward to fully implement the evaluation policy, develop its

evaluation staff, and expand availability of information developed through evaluations for

program use and public awareness of the impact of SAMHSA’s program efforts.

Statistical and Analytic Support

A number of activities have been undertaken to support a broad range of analytic work that is

carried out by CBHSQ. These activities include support for a CBHSQ Analytic Support Center

(ASC), formerly The National Analytic Center (NAC), which undertakes a number of scientific

and writing tasks on policy and practice-related topics in response to requests from SAMHSA

Centers and related components, HHS agencies ( the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA), and the Surgeon General’s Office), along with the Office of National

Drug Control Policy, and the Department of Justice. In FY 2014, funding for the ASC contract

was modified to include a PSTAR feasibility study. $3.5 million was funded for statistical

support services, and logistical and consultant services to promote knowledge about the field of 

behavioral health, thereby, furthering the knowledge and understanding of behavioral health

problems and consequences. Funding for FY 2015 is $6.0 million, as CBHSQ plans to provide 

$3.0 million to phase in implementation of the PSTAR survey. In FY 2016, funding decreases to

$4.3 million as the initiation of the PSTAR project will likely be more incremental than originally

envisioned, thus requiring fewer funds. 

Funding will also support the ongoing Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive

(SAMHDA) which serves as SAMHSA’s primary repository for public access data files. Funding 

for SAMHDA in FY 2013, FY 2014, FY 2015 and FY 2016 is $1.3 million per year. SAMHDA

provides free access and on-line analytic tools to the public. Resources will also be used to

sustain a program for providing limited public access to files restricted for privacy or other

reasons, serving to expand the use and application of data collected under the survey 

contracts.

Finally, funding will support positions focused on analyzing and reporting on data collected

within CBHSQ, SAMHSA, and HHS, as well as identifying and analyzing information from

284 
other data sets that may help inform the work of SAMHSA. Staff will also respond to requests

for data and explanations of existing data points; prepare internal reports; support SAMHSA

staff in the development of materials that require statistical information; and prepare short 

reports, data spotlights, and manuscripts for publication. These staff support data needs by

serving on workgroups that require data analysis as part of their function and will prepare data

requests for departmental activities. Particularly important is the inclusion of a new Health

Economics and Financing Team that will focus on studies related to cost and financing trends as

health care delivery models change over the next several years. Some of these positions have 

been created by in-sourcing tasks that are most appropriately done by federal staff, are less

expensive than contract staff, and/or are mission critical and thus improve SAMHSA’s capacity

to respond to data and information needs relevant to SAMHSA’s mission.

The SAMHSA appropriation’s language in FY 2014 included authority to collect fees to offset

the cost of publications or analyses of these data that would otherwise not be available within

existing SAMHSA resources. Often, these requests are by private or public entities that are

interested in additional data analyses that will be supported by SAMHSA’s Data Request and

Publication User Fees. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will work to implement a mechanism to collect

user fees.

Services Systems Research

Building on efforts begun in FY 2011, and continued through FY 2014, SAMHSA proposes to

continue to build its practice-based service systems research program which complements efforts

in its sister agencies of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), AHRQ, and CDC in FY 2015 and

FY 2016. This will provide pilot data for full-scale research proposals to NIH or other practice

settings in which to test models being developed through these agencies’ research efforts. The

program will focus on critical gaps in knowledge about prevention, wellness, treatment, and

recovery services for individuals, families, and communities at risk for or suffering from mental

illnesses, substance use disorders, and related chronic conditions. Of particular interest to

SAMHSA are issues of quality, cost, access to, and outcomes of behavioral health services both

in the primary and specialty care service sectors. Significant attention will be given to developing 

analyses that enhance understanding of the economic and cost implications of changes in health

insurance access for behavioral health care within the larger SAMHSA analytic agenda

coordinated through CBHSQ. A team of health economists and health services researchers is 

specifically focused on cost and finance studies related to behavioral health.

Performance and Quality Information Systems

Continued funding is requested for performance and quality information systems to phase in the 

implementation of SAMHSA’s Common Data Platform (CDP). The CDP will provide a uniform 

collection and reporting system providing SAMHSA management and staff with the ability to

analyze programs at various levels (state, program, community, etc.); provide each Center with

tailored information about the progress and activities of grantees; and provide data to grantees to

support the efficient and effective implementation of projects. 

In FY 2013, CDP funding was $4.4 million. This was reduced in FY 2014 to $1.4 million due to

the contract total cost coming in lower than expected. These savings were used to continue to

285 
fund the CDP-related Legacy programs which were necessary due to the later than expected start

for the CDP. CDP Legacy systems will be phased out fully in FY 2015. 

In FY 2015 and FY 2016, funding for CDP increases to $5.0 million to support the continued

creation of CDP which will provide a uniform collection and reporting system for SAMHSA

management and staff with the ability to analyze programs at various levels (state, program, 

community, etc.), provide each Center with tailored information in real-time about the progress

and activities of their grantees, and provide data to grantees to support them in the efficient and

effective implementation of projects. 

SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) is a 

searchable online system that supports states, communities, and tribes in identifying and

implementing evidence-based mental health promotion, substance abuse prevention, and

substance abuse and mental health treatment interventions. This registry is comprised of mental

health and substance abuse interventions that have been reviewed and rated by independent 

reviewers. Moreover, the registry assists the public in identifying scientifically based approaches 

to preventing and treating mental and/or substance use disorders that can be readily disseminated

to the field. This program is one way that SAMHSA is working to improve access to information 

on tested interventions and thereby reduce the lag time between the creation of scientific

knowledge and its practical application in the field. FY 2013 provided $3.5 million for NREPP,

$1.5 million from PQIS and FY 2014 provided $3.0 million. In FY 2015 and FY 2016, funding 

for NREPP will increase to $3.5 million to support growth of the registry to address the continued 

demand for the use of evidence-based programs within states and communities.

Grantee Data Technical Assistance (GDTA)

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded a new contract, Grantee Data Development Technical

Assistance (GDTA). The contract provides SAMHSA with assistance in its mission to support 

grantees and staff in their data collection and management processes as well as support in the 

utilization of data for program performance monitoring and management and quality 

improvement. Specifically the objectives of this contract support the Agency’s ability to ensure 

conformance to program specifications through: 

• surveying grantees to determine current training requirements;

• maintaining current records of all SAMHSA data collection requirements;

• providing training to grantees related to the collection, management, analysis, and

utilization of data; and

• providing technical assistance to grantees regarding data in manner that supports

sustainable practices researching and disseminating information related to data collection,

management, and utilization.

In FY 2014, GDTA funding was $3.5 million provided from Health Surveillance to support the

initial ramping up of TA activities around development and implementation of measures.

$5.0 million is planned for FY 2015 from PQIS to support further analysis, which suggests the 

need for a continued investment in the technical assistance support for agency grantees. Funding 

for GDTA in FY 2016 will remain at the same level and funding source as FY 2015. 

286 
Agency-Wide Initiatives

(Dollars in thousands)

Prevention and Public Health Fund FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget 

FY 2016 

+/- 

FY 2015 

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration $--- $--- $26,004 $26,004

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration TTA --- --- 1,996 1,996

Suicide Prevention 12,000 12,000 10,000 -2,000

National Strategy on Suicide Prevention (non-add) 2,000 --- --- ---

GLS- Youth Suicide Prevention-States (non-add) 5,800 12,000 10,000 -2,000

GLS-Youth Suicide Prevention- Campus 1500 --- --- ---

GLS-Suicide Prevention Resource Center (non-add) 1,000 --- --- ---

Suicide Lifeline (non-add) 1,700 --- --- ---

1/ The Minority Fellowship Program budgets from the MH, SAP, and SAT appropriations are reflected under the Workforce initiative and prior years have

been comparably adjusted.

Program Description and Accomplishments

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and

Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 will extend federal parity protections to over 60 

million Americans, among them, over 30 million will gain coverage that includes mental health

and substance use disorder treatment, and an additional 30 million who already have some 

coverage of these services will see their coverage enhanced.67 These estimates take into account

the states’ decisions on whether to participate in the expansion of Medicaid.

As of June 2014, there were more than 4,000 Mental Health, Health Professional Shortage Areas

(HPSAs) in the United States, containing nearly a third of the American population (96 million

people). Recent data indicate that almost 90 percent of persons with substance use disorders do 

not receive the services they need and over half of those with mental disorders do not receive

needed treatment.

The President’s Now is the Time initiative, supports new activities to expand the behavioral

health workforce. In FY 2015, the new workforce investments provide support 

for approximately 3,500 new behavioral health professionals. To ensure the existing workforce 

investments are achieving desired outcomes, SAMHSA workforce activities in FY 2015 include 

$1.0 million within the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) to partner 

with HRSA on the Behavioral Health Minimum Data Set to develop consistent data collection

methods to identify and track behavioral health workforce needs. In FY 2015, SAMHSA will

continue to work with HRSA to develop a consistent and common data set and to develop clear

67 Beronio K, Glied S, Frank R. How the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

Greatly Expand Coverage of Behavioral Health Care. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 41:4,

October 2014.

287 
goals and objectives to meet the national behavioral health workforce needs in America.

SAMHSA intends to continue funding in FY 2016 at the same level as FY 2015. 

The FY 2016 Budget requests $77.7 million for Behavioral Health Workforce, an increase of 

$31.0 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. This includes $10.0 million for a new program

entitled Peer Professional Workforce Development, which will award grants to provide tuition

support and further the capacity of community colleges to develop and sustain behavioral health

paraprofessional training and education programs, resulting in 1,200 additional peer

professionals in the behavioral health workforce. SAMHSA is also requesting $21.0 million

above the FY 2015 Enacted Level for the SAMHSA-HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce 

Education and Training (BHWET) Grant Program to expand the behavioral health workforce. In

FY 2016, the Agency-Wide programs will support the addition of approximately 5,600 health

professionals to the workforce, an increase of 2,100 individuals over FY 2015 levels.

SAMHSA’s collective workforce efforts will help add several thousand new professionals to the 

workforce each year.

288 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(Dollars in millions)

Resource Summary FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget 

Drug Resources by Decision Unit and Function - Substance Abuse 

Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance (PRNS) 

Prevention 1 175.129 175.148 210.918

Total, SAPPRNS 175.129 175.148 210.918

Substance Abuse Treatment PRNS 

Treantment 2 360.698 361.463 320.701

Total, SATPRNS 360.698 361.463 320.701

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant

Prevention 3 363.089 363.971 363.971

Treantment 3 1452.354 1455.885 1455.885

Total, SABG 1815.443 1819.856 1819.856

Health Surveillance and Program Treatment

Prevention 4 24.184 24.341 28.936

Treatment 4 96.734 97.363 115.743

Total, HSPS 120.918 121.703 144.679

Total Funding 2472.188 2478.17 2496.154

Drug Resources Personnel Summary

Total FTEs (direct only) 619 665 665

Drug Resources as a Percent of Budget

Total Agency Budget 3621.706 3621.212 3654.585

Drug Resources Percentage 68.30% 68.40% 68.30%

1

Includesfunding fromthe Substance Abuse Prevention PRNS.

2

Includes funding fromthe Substance Abuse Treatment PRNS. 3 The Substance Abuse Prevention and TreatmentBlockGrant is split 20%to the prevention function and 80%to the treatment function.

4

The Health Surveillance and ProgramSupport Appropriation funded activities are split between MentalHealth /Substance Abuse as

follows:ProgramSupport, Health Surveillance and PQISare split the same percentage split as between MH/SA appropriations. PAS,

Agency-wide, and DataRequest and Publication User Fees are split 50/50between MH/SA. The subsequent Substance Abuse amounts

are then divided into 20%for Prevention and 80%forTreatment.

289 
Drug Budget Split between Prevention and Treatment FY 2014 – FY 2016 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(Dollars in thousands) 

Prevention and Public Health Fund FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget 

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration $--- $--- $26,004

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration TTA --- --- 1,996

Suicide Prevention 12,000 12,000 10,000

National Strategy on Suicide Prevention (non-add) 2,000 --- ---

GLS- Youth Suicide Prevention-States (non-add) 5,800 12,000 10,000

GLS-Youth Suicide Prevention- Campus 1500 --- ---

GLS-Suicide Prevention Resource Center (non-add) 1,000 --- ---

Suicide Lifeline (non-add) 1,700 --- ---

Health Surveillance --- --- 20,000

Total, Prevention and Public Health Fund 12,000 12,000 58,000

Access to Recovery 50,000 38,223 ---

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 50,000 --- ---

Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCAST) --- --- 20,000

Children and Family Programs 29,605 29,605 29,605

Treatment Systems for Homeless 41,386 41,386 41,386

Minority AIDS 65,570 65,570 58,859

Criminal Justice Activities 74,816 78,000 61,946

Addiction Technology Transfer Centers 9,024 9,046 8,081

Crisis Systems --- --- 5,000

Special Initiatives/Outreach 1,432 1,432 1,432

Total, Substance Abuse Treatment PRNS 1 360,698 361,463 210,318

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant 1,452,354 1,455,885 1,455,885

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 63,360 63,360 63,360

Total, Substance Abuse Block Grant 1,452,354 1,455,885 1,455,885

Health Surveillance and Program Support 

Health Surveillance 25,924 25,993 27,116

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) --- --- 10,972

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 16,692 16,736 16,144

Program Support 39,498 39,603 43,645

1

TheMinorityFellowship ProgrambudgetsfromtheMentalHealth,Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment appropriations have been

comparably adjusted in this table to be in line with the FY2016Request and are reflected in the Health Surveillance and Program Support

AppropriationundertheAgency-WideInitiativesWorkforceprogram.

290 
Prevention and Public Health Fund FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016 

President's 

Budget 

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration $--- $--- $26,004

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration TTA --- --- 1,996

Suicide Prevention 12,000 12,000 10,000

National Strategy on Suicide Prevention (non-add) 2,000 --- ---

GLS- Youth Suicide Prevention-States (non-add) 5,800 12,000 10,000

GLS-Youth Suicide Prevention- Campus

1500 --- ---

GLS-Suicide Prevention Resource Center (non-add) 1,000 --- ---

Suicide Lifeline (non-add) 1,700 --- ---

Health Surveillance --- --- 20,000

Total, Prevention and Public Health Fund 12,000 12,000 58,000

Access to Recovery 50,000 38,223 ---

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) 50,000 --- ---

Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCAST) --- --- 20,000

Children and Family Programs 29,605 29,605 29,605

Treatment Systems for Homeless 41,386 41,386 41,386

Minority AIDS 65,570 65,570 58,859

Criminal Justice Activities 74,816 78,000 61,946

Addiction Technology Transfer Centers 9,024 9,046 8,081

Crisis Systems --- --- 5,000

Special Initiatives/Outreach 1,432 1,432 1,432

Total, Substance Abuse Treatment PRNS 1 360,698 361,463 210,318

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant 1,452,354 1,455,885 1,455,885

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 63,360 63,360 63,360

Total, Substance Abuse Block Grant 1,452,354 1,455,885 1,455,885

Health Surveillance and Program Support 

Health Surveillance 25,924 25,993 27,116

Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) --- --- 10,972

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) 16,692 16,736 16,144

Program Support 39,498 39,603 43,645

Public Awareness and Support 5,393 5,393 6,228

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 6,228

Performance and Quality Information Systems 7,086 7,105 7,087

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- --- 7,087

Agency Wide Initiatives 1 18,233 18,668 31,068

PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) --- 400 400

Data Rquest/Pblication User Fees 600 600 600

291 
MISSION

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) mission is to

reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA

supports the President’s National Drug Control Strategy through a broad range of programs 

focusing on prevention, treatment and recovery from substance abuse. Major programs for FY 

2016 will include the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, competitive grant

programs reflecting Programs of Regional and National Significance (PRNS) and Health

Surveillance and Program Support. These programs are administered through SAMHSA’s Centers

for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) as well as

through SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) and the 

Office of Communications.

METHODOLOGY

SAMHSA distributes drug control funding into two functions: prevention and treatment. Both

functions include a portion of funding from the Health Surveillance and Program Support (HSPS)

appropriation. 

The portion of the Health Surveillance and Program Support account attributed to the Drug

Budget uses the following calculations:

• The Health Surveillance, Program Support, and PQIS portions of the HSPS appropriation

are first split into Mental Health and Substance Abuse using the same percentages splits

as between the Mental Health and Substance Abuse (Prevention and Treatment)

appropriation amounts.

o The Substance Abuse portion is then split 20 percent/80 percent into the two

functions, prevention and treatment, respectively.

• The PAS and Agency-wide portions of the HSPS appropriation are first divided evenly

between Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

o The Substance Abuse portion is then split 20 percent/80 percent into the two

functions, prevention and treatment, respectively.

Also included in the prevention function are the funds in the Substance Abuse Prevention

appropriation, including the Substance Abuse Prevention Programs of Regional and National

Significance and 20 percent of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant

funds specifically appropriated for prevention activities from the Substance Abuse Treatment

appropriation. 

Also included in the treatment function are the funds in the Substance Abuse Treatment

appropriation, including the Substance Abuse Treatment Programs of Regional and National

Significance and 80 percent of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant

funds. 

292 
BUDGET SUMMARY

In FY 2016, SAMHSA requests a total of $2.5 billion for drug control activities, which is an

increase of $18.0 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. The budget directs resources to

activities that have demonstrated improved health outcomes and that increase service capacity.

SAMHSA has three major drug-related decision units: Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance

Abuse Treatment, and Health Surveillance and Program Support. Each decision unit is discussed

below:

Substance Abuse Prevention

Substance Abuse Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance

Total FY 2016 Request: $210.9 million

(Reflects $35.8 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Substance Abuse Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance (PRNS) support 

states and communities in carrying out an array of activities to improve the quality and

availability of services in priority areas. The FY 2016 President’s Budget request for

SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Prevention PRNS includes $210.9 million which covers nine 

programmatic activities, an increase of $35.8 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. The

request includes: $118.3 million for Strategic Prevention Framework; $4.9 million for Mandatory 

Drug Testing; $41.2 million for Minority AIDS; $7.0 million for Sober Truth on Preventing 

Underage Drinking; $1.0 million for the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) contract;

$7.5 million to continue provision of technical assistance to maximize effectiveness through 

the Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies; $4.1 million for Science and Service

Program Coordination; $12.0 million for Prescription and Opioid Overdose Death Prevention;

and $15.0 million for Tribal Behavioral Health Grants.

Strategic Prevention Framework

Total FY 2016 Request: $118.3 million

(Reflects $8.8 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) grant programs support activities to help

grantees build a solid foundation for delivering and sustaining effective substance abuse 

prevention services and reducing substance abuse problems. The program goals include: reducing

substance abuse-related problems; preventing the onset and reducing the progression of substance 

use disorders; strengthening prevention capacity and infrastructure at the state and community 

levels in support of prevention; and leveraging, redirecting, and realigning statewide funding 

streams for substance abuse prevention. Through the PFS program, SAMHSA will continue

to address the nation’s top emerging substance abuse priorities, such as prescription drugs, 

other opioids, underage drinking, marijuana, heroin, and intoxicative inhalants. 

See page 153 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

293 
Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF Rx)

Due to alarming trends related to prescription drug misuse and overdoses involving opioids, 

SAMHSA is prioritizing efforts to address prescription drug misuse. SAMHSA’s Strategic

Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF Rx) will raise awareness about the dangers 

of sharing medications and work with pharmaceutical and medical communities on the risks of 

overprescribing to young adults. SAMHSA’s program will also focus on raising community 

awareness and bringing prescription drug abuse prevention activities and education to schools, 

communities, parents, prescribers, and their patients.

See page 155 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of these efforts.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $118.3 million at the program level with $108.3 million from

Budget Authority and $10.0 million from Public Health Service (PHS) Evaluation Funds. This is

a net increase of $8.8 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level with a $1.2 million decrease from

Budget Authority and a $10.0 million increase in PHS Evaluation Funds for the new Strategic

Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF-Rx) program. SPF-Rx will raise public 

awareness about the dangers of sharing medications and to work with pharmaceutical and medical

communities to raise awareness on the risks of overprescribing. The FY 2016 SPF program 

will provide funds to develop capacity and expertise in the use of data from state prescription

drug monitoring programs to identify communities by geography and high-risk populations 

(e.g., age group), particularly those communities that are in need of primary and secondary

prevention. In addition, grantees can use SAMHSA’s resources to provide technical assistance

and training on the use of SAMHSA’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Tool Kit to help prevent

opioid overdose related deaths. Funding will support up to 20 state planning grants, technical

assistance and evaluation to build capacity to address prescription drug abuse, and overdose 

prevention efforts, in conjunction with other state and local partners.

Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program (Formally Mandatory Drug Testing)

Total FY 2016 Request: $4.9 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

SAMHSA’s activities related to the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program (DFWP) support to

two principal activities mandated by Executive Order (E.O.) 12564 and Public Law (P.L.) 100- 

71: 1) oversight of the DFWP, aimed at the elimination of illicit drug use within Executive

Branch agencies and the regulated industry; and 2) oversight of the National Laboratory 

Certification Program (NLCP), which certifies laboratories to conduct forensic drug testing for

federal agencies, federally regulated industries and the private sector.

See page 159 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

294 
Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $4.9 million is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level. In

FY 2016, SAMHSA will continue oversight of the Executive Branch Agencies’ DFWP. This

includes review of agency DFWP plans that perform federal employee testing, perform random 

testing for positions of national security, public health, and public safety, and perform testing for

illegal drug use and the misuse of prescription drugs. SAMHSA will continue its oversight role

to inspect and certify the NLCP laboratories. 

Minority AIDS Initiative

Total FY 2016 Request: $41.2 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The purpose of the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) grants is to facilitate the development and

expansion of culturally competent and effective community-based treatment systems for

substance use and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders within racial and ethnic

minority communities. The goals of the program are to reduce the impact of behavioral health

problems, reduce HIV risk and incidence, and increase access to treatment for individuals with

co-existing behavioral health, HIV, and Hepatitis conditions. 

See page 160 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $41.2 million is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level. These

funds continue to address a critical public health problem and health disparity and provide lifesaving prevention services, including testing.

Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking

Total FY 2016 Request: $7.0 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) of 2006 (Public Law 109- 

422) was the nation’s first comprehensive legislation on underage drinking. One of the primary

components of the STOP Act is the community-based coalition enhancement grant program 

aimed at preventing and reducing alcohol use among youth under age 21. 

See page 165 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $7.0 million is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level. This

funding will support 97 continuation grants in FY 2016. Eligible entities include current and

former Drug-Free Communities grantees.

295 
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Total FY 2016 Request: $1.0 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Center for Excellence (CFE) program focuses on 

preventing FASD among women of childbearing age and improving the quality of life for

individuals and families affected by these disorders. The FASD CFE uses a comprehensive 

approach across the lifespan to work toward reducing the number of infants exposed to alcohol

prenatally, increasing the functioning of individuals who have an FASD, and addressing the 

challenges of individuals and families affected by FASD.

See page 168 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $1.0 million is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level. These

funds will maintain the Center for Excellence.

Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies

Total FY 2016 Request: $7.5 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) program provides state-ofthe-art training and technical assistance to build the capacity of SAMHSA grantees and develop 

the skills, knowledge, and expertise of the prevention workforce. CAPT builds capacity and

promotes the development of substance abuse prevention professionals in the behavioral health

field through three core strategies: 1) establishing technical assistance networks using local

experts; 2) developing and delivering targeted training and technical assistance activities; and 3) 

using communication media such as teleconference and video conferencing, online events, and

web-based support. These activities help ensure the delivery of effective prevention programs

and practices and the development of accountability systems for performance measurement and

management.

See page 169 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $7.5 million is equal to FY 2015 Enacted Level. These funds 

will continue to provide technical assistance and workforce development to the prevention field.

296 
Science and Service Program Coordination 

Total FY 2016 Request: $4.1 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Science and Service Program Coordination program funds the provision of technical

assistance and training to states, tribes, communities, and grantees around substance abuse 

prevention. These contracts support the Tribal Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Center

and the Underage Drinking Prevention Education Initiatives (UADPEI). The TTA Center provides

comprehensive, broad, focused, and/or intensive training to communities seeking to address

and prevent mental and substance use disorders, suicide, and promote mental health. 

See pages 172 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $4.1 million is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level to continue 

to support SAMHSA’s top strategic initiative, prevention of substance abuse and mental illness,

which includes a focus on preventing underage drinking and on American Indians/Alaska Natives.

Tribal Behavioral Health Grants

Total FY 2016 Request: $15.0 million

(Reflects $15.0 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

SAMHSA’s Tribal Behavioral Health Grants focus on mental and substance use disorders and

suicides among Native youth. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among American

Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth ages 8 to 24 years.68 AI/AN high school students report 

higher rates of suicidal behaviors (serious thoughts of suicide, making suicide plans, attempting

suicide, and getting medical attention for a suicide attempt) than the general population of U.S.

high school students.69 In addition, about 90 percent of those who die by suicide had a mental

disorder at the time of their deaths.70

See page 173 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request for the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant (TBHG) program is

$30.0 million, including $15.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 million in

68 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fatal injury data, 2010. Web-based Injury statistics Query and

Reporting System. Available at www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html. Accessed May 27, 2014.

69 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Available at

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/index.htm. Accessed May 27, 2014.

70 American Association of Suicidology. (2012). Suicide in the USA Based on 2010 Data. Washington, DC:

American Association of Suicidology. Available at:

http://www.suicidology.org/Portals/14/docs/Resources/FactSheets/SuicideUSA2012.pdf.

297 
the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This request represents an increase over the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level of $10.0 million in the Mental Health appropriation and $15.0 million

for a newly established line in the Substance Abuse Prevention appropriation. This funding is

part of Generation Indigenous, a Native youth initiative focused on removing possible barriers to

success for Native youth. This initiative will take a comprehensive, culturally appropriate 

approach to help improve the lives and opportunities for Native youth. In addition to HHS,

multiple agencies, including the Departments of Interior, Education, Housing and Urban

Development, Agriculture, Labor, and Justice, are working collaboratively with tribes to address

issues facing Native youth. This funding will allow SAMHSA to expand activities that are

critical to preventing substance abuse and promoting mental health and resiliency among youth 

in tribal communities. The additional funding will expand these activities to approximately 103 

additional tribes and tribal entities. With the expansion of the TBHG program, SAMHSA aims

to reduce substance use and the incidence of suicide attempts among Native youth and to address

behavioral health conditions which impact learning in Bureau of Indian Education-funded 

schools. The TBHG program will support mental health promotion and substance use prevention

activities for high-risk Native youth and their families, enhance early detection of mental and

substance use disorders among Native youth, and increase referral to treatment.

Grants to Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose Related Deaths

Total FY 2016 Request: $12.0 million

(Reflects $12.0 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

Opioid-related overdose is a significant contributor to accidental deaths among those who use,

misuse, or abuse illicit and prescription opioids. SAMHSA’s Grants to Prevent Prescription

Drug/Opioid Overdose Related Deaths program seeks to help states identify communities of high

need, and provide education, training, and resources necessary to tailor the overdose kits to meet

their specific needs. The grant funds could be used for purchasing naloxone, equipping first

responders with naloxone and other overdose death prevention strategies, supporting education

on these strategies, providing materials to assemble and disseminate overdose kits.

See page 176 in the CSAP chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $12.0 million, which is $12.0 million above the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. This new program will provide grants to 10 states to reduce significantly the 

number of opioid overdose-related deaths. Funding will help states purchase naloxone, equip

first responders in high-risk communities, support education on the use of naloxone and other 

overdose death prevention strategies, provide the necessary materials to assemble overdose kits,

as well as cover expenses incurred from dissemination efforts.

298 
Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance Abuse Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance

Total FY 2016 Request: $320.7 million

(Reflects $40.8 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Substance Abuse Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance (PRNS) support 

states and communities in carrying out an array of activities to improve the quality and

availability of services in priority areas. The FY 2016 President’s Budget request for

SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Treatment PRNS includes $320.7 million which covers sixteen

programmatic activities, a decrease of $40.8 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. The

request includes: $8.7 million for Opioid Treatment Programs/Regulatory Activities;

$25.1 million for Prescription Drug and Opioid Medication-Assisted Treatment; $30.0 million

for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment; $41.4 million for Treatment Systems

for Homeless; $58.9 million for Minority AIDS Initiative; $61.9 million for Criminal Justice

Activities of which $50.0 million will fund Drug Courts; $0 for Access to Recovery, $20 million

for the Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration Program; and $74.7 million for other 

PRNS Treatment Programs.

Opioid Treatment Programs/Regulatory Activities

FY 2016 Request: $8.7 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

As part of its regulatory responsibility, SAMHSA certifies Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs)

that use methadone, buprenorphine, or buprenorphine/naloxone to treat patients with opioid 

dependence. SAMHSA carries out this responsibility by enforcing regulations established by an

accreditation-based system.

See page 187 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding will support two

grant continuations, including the five-year ATTC-HEP support, one new three-year PCSS-MAT

grant, and six contracts to continue technical assistance and regulatory oversight and monitoring 

of OTPs. Additionally, SAMHSA intends to fund a new cooperative agreement to pilot two

Regional Medication Assisted Treatment Centers of Excellence (MATCoEs), in two of the ten

HHS regions. The PCSS-MAT project will continue for one additional year and will provide

MAT training and related services for the other regions. The PCSS-O project will not be continued. 

Eligible entities for the new RegMATCoE include academic health centers and leading MAT

service providers in the region. The RegMATCoEs will assess the needs of the medical and

health professions workforce, identify gaps in services within the region and engage with local

leadership in addressing these needs and gaps while supporting the overall improvement in 

MAT quality of care.

299 
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment

FY 2016 Request: $30.0 million

(Reflects $16.9 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program requires state

grant recipients to implement the SBIRT model at all levels of primary care and medical facilities,

including hospitals, trauma centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other relevant

settings. Research and clinical experience support the use of SBIRT to intervene early with

alcohol and other substance use disorders, which leads to early referral and treatment. The

purpose of the SBIRT training grants is to develop primary care practices in order to enhance the 

delivery system that includes SBIRT as a part of standard medical practice. This program

provides medical residents, students of dentistry, physician assistants, and pharmacists, nurses, 

social workers, counselors the opportunity to learn the elements of SBIRT and incorporate them

as part of their permanent practice.

See page 189 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $30.0 million for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to

Treatment (SBIRT), a $16.9 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. Funding will

support 49 grant continuations (three five-year state SBIRT and 46 three-year Medical

Professional Training grants), 13 new Medical Professional Training grants, and four contracts to

continue to integrate SBIRT into general medical and primary care settings. This reduction will

not result in the termination of any grants. Funding is requested to continue to support the 

coordination and integration of primary care services into publicly-funded community behavioral

health settings. With the increasing adoption of SBIRT in healthcare settings, the Budget

redirects resources to other substance abuse treatment activities, such as heroin and prescription

drug abuse treatment.

Targeted Capacity Expansion-General

FY 2016 Request: $36.3 million

(Reflects $13.1 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Targeted Capacity Expansion-General (TCE-General) program was initiated in FY 1998 to

help communities expand or enhance their ability to provide rapid, strategic, comprehensive, 

integrated, and community-based responses to a specific and well-documented substance abuse 

capacity problem. As part of these efforts, SAMHSA’s Medication-Assisted Treatment for

Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction (MAT-PDOA) seeks to expand or enhance MAT and

other clinically appropriate services for persons with opioid use disorders. 

See page 192 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

300 
Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request of $36.3 million includes an increase of $13.1 million from the 

FY 2015 Enacted Level for Targeted Capacity Expansion-General. The increase will be used to

support a new activity under the Targeted Capacity Expansion program entitled Medication

Assisted Treatment for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction. This funding is part of a joint 

effort by SAMHSA and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to improve 

access to MAT services for treating opioid use disorders, with a focus on heroin and prescription

opioids. SAMHSA will use this funding to provide grants to states to support opioid MAT

efforts in high-risk communities, to educate, and to provide technical assistance. States can use 

this funding to purchase medication to expand MAT services. This program will increase the 

number of states from 11 to 22 that receive funding to expand services that address prescription 

drug misuse and heroin use in high-risk communities. This new funding is expected to serve an

additional 24 high-risk communities.

In conjunction with this new program, SAMHSA will work with AHRQ which will evaluate

clinical practices to identify effective treatment models. This information will improve and

enhance the SAMHSA MAT grant program. This funding will help identify models that can be 

implemented in communities to achieve improvements in patient care outcomes, increased

coordination of care for medical and psychiatric conditions, increased patient satisfaction, and

other healthcare outcomes that will produce significant provider and community level public 

health impacts.

Treatment Systems for Homeless

FY 2016 Request: $41.4 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

SAMHSA’s Treatment Systems for Homelessness portfolio supports services, including shortterm residential treatment and medication-assisted treatment, to those with substance use 

disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. These homelessness programs do

not fund housing, but complement HUD’s activities by supporting an array of integrated

behavioral health treatment and recovery-oriented services and supports, including outreach,

engagement, intensive case management, treatment for mental and/or substance use disorders, 

enrollment in mainstream benefits (Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, SNAP, etc.), and employment readiness

services.

See page 210 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level for Treatment Systems for

Homelessness. Funding will support 60 annual grant continuations (27 CABHI-States

continuation grants, 33 GBHI five-year continuation grants), 9 new three-year grants, and three

contracts. These programs will allow SAMHSA to continue to support an array of integrated

behavioral health, treatment, housing support, and recovery-oriented services and supports, 

including outreach, engagement, intensive case management, treatment for mental and/or 

301 
substance use disorders, enrollment in mainstream benefits, employment readiness, and linkage

to permanent housing.

Minority AIDS Initiative

FY 2016 Request: $58.9 million

(Reflects $6.7 million decrease from FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The purpose of the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) grants is to facilitate the development and

expansion of culturally competent and effective community-based treatment systems for

substance use and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders within racial and ethnic

minority communities. The goals of the program are to reduce the impact of behavioral health

problems, reduce HIV risk and incidence, and increase access to treatment for individuals with

co-existing behavioral health, HIV, and Hepatitis conditions. 

See page 215 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $58.9 million, a decrease of $6.7 million from the FY 2015 Enacted

Level. The funding decrease reflects a realignment between CSAT and CMHS Minority AIDS

activities. Total Minority AIDS funds across SAMHSA are equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level.

This funding level will provide substance abuse treatment services, and provide literature and

other materials to support behavior change, perform HIV/AIDS testing and counseling 

services and facilitate linkage to other medical and social services in local communities to

racial/ethnic minority populations with substance use disorders and at high risk for HIV or living

with HIV. SAMHSA will administer the braided MAI-Continuum of Care Program which will

provide fully integrated medical care and mental and substance use disorder treatment to those 

living with HIV. It will also enable SAMHSA to administer the braided MAI-Continuum of 

Care Program which will provide fully integrated medical care and mental and substance use 

disorder treatment to those living with HIV.

Treatment Drug Courts

FY 2016 Request: $50.0 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

Drug courts are designed to combine the sanctioning power of courts with effective treatment

services for a range of populations with problems such as alcohol and/or drug use, child

abuse/neglect or criminal behavior, mental illness, and veterans’ issues. The SAMHSA Drug

Court grant programs use existing evidence from numerous studies to support current programs

and new proposals.

See page 218 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

302 
Offender Re-Entry Program 

FY 2016 Request: $11.9 million

(Reflects $16.1 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

SAMHSA’s criminal justice activities also include Offender Reentry Program (ORP) grants,

which provide screening, assessment, comprehensive treatment, and recovery support services to

offenders reentering the community, as well as offenders who are currently on or being released

from probation or parole.

See page 219 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $61.9 million, a decrease of $16.1 million from the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. This reduction will not result in the termination of any grants. As a result of 

multi-year funding of FY 2014 grants, these funds will still provide sufficient support to existing

sites/programs at each of the current grantees receiving continuations, as well as new grants in

the Drug Court and ORP programs. SAMHSA plans to support 136 grant continuations consisting 

of 109 Drug Court and 27 ORP grant continuations, Ex-Offender Reentry grants, five contract

continuations, approximately 41 new Drug Court grants, and two new contracts. These programs

will continue to provide comprehensive treatment and recovery support services for adolescents

and adults with substance use disorders coming into contact with the criminal justice system as

well as offenders re-entering the community. SAMHSA proposes to focus this portfolio more

strategically to explore new approaches and a variety of models within the drug court umbrella

rather than using a significant portion of SAMHSA’s limited funding to support what is already

a robust system.

Access to Recovery

FY 2016 Request: $0.0 million

(Reflects $38.2 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

Access to Recovery is a grant program which promotes client choice and supports states/tribes in

developing expanded provider networks, including faith-based and secular providers, to provide

comprehensive clinical substance abuse treatment and recovery support services. Since 2004, 

the ATR program has served over 650,000 clients through 75 grantees. The majority of services

provided are recovery support related and not reimbursable by insurance. Services include 

transportation, housing, and jobs support. 

See page 202 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

SAMHSA is proposing eliminating the Access to Recovery (ATR) program in FY 2016. Many

of the clinical services provided under ATR will now be covered by public and private insurance.

In addition, states are able to support recovery support services and client choice with Substance 

303 
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funding. Since 2004, ATR has served over 650,000 

clients through 75 grantees. SAMHSA has been able to identify successful substance abuse

treatment and recovery-oriented systems of care models and will continue to offer technical

assistance to states that would like to continue this activity.

Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration Program 

FY 2016 Request: $20.0 million

(Reflects $20.0 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCASI) seeks to improve the health of

people with substance use disorders though coordinated and integrated primary care services.

Through PCASI, integrated teams of professionals will be able to provide needed primary care

services to individuals seeking care for a SUD. Provision of coordinated and integrated services

improves the physical health status of adults with substance use disorders who have or are at risk

for co-occurring primary care conditions and chronic diseases, with the objective of improving 

the health of those with SUD, enhancing the client’s experience of care (including quality, 

access, and reliability), and reducing/controlling the per capita cost of care.

See page 205 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $20.0 million to provide grants to behavioral health and primary

care providers to integrate substance abuse treatment services and primary care. Individuals with

substance use disorders are at risk for co-occurring health conditions. Several cardiovascular

complications such as heart attack, heart failure, and stroke are closely related to cocaine use.

Alcohol use is a major risk factor for many conditions including chronic hypertension, obesity 

and diabetes. In addition, individuals with other chronic health issues may develop substance

abuse problems due to self-medication. Not only do people with substance use disorders 

experience health disparities in morbidity and mortality, Medicare and Medicaid cost data tell us

that for people with multiple chronic conditions, costs are exponentially higher when one of 

those conditions is a substance use disorder. The goal of this program is to improve the health of 

people with substance use disorders though coordinated and integrated primary care services in

community substance abuse treatment settings. Through PCASI, integrated teams of 

professionals will be able to provide needed primary care services to individuals seeking care for

a substance use disorder (SUD), with the objective of improving health outcomes, enhancing the 

experience of care, and reducing the cost of care by controlling physical healthcare costs.

SAMHSA expects that PCASI will complement the successful Primary and Behavioral Health

Care Integration (PBHCI) grant program by promoting integrated services for individuals with

SUDs and using lessons learned from PBHCI.

This funding will support a total of 21 grants to behavioral health and primary care providers of 

approximately $0.5 million annually for up to three years. Funding will also be used to award an

HIV continuum of care grant award. In addition, SAMHSA will award a contract to support 

technical assistance and evaluation activities which will assess the clinical and cost effectiveness

of these programs and other programs in the field, grantee ensure fidelity to

304 
program implementation, and to assist with documentation and dissemination of lessons learned

from the program.

Crisis Systems: Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE)

FY 2016 Request: $5.0 million

(Reflects $5.0 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

Behavioral health crises are critical times for intervention and treatment and to engage

individuals in on-going treatment and the pursuit of recovery. Such crises often cause great

disruption for individuals and those around them, including family members, teachers, law

enforcement, and employers. This program seeks to increase the engagement with and

functioning of individuals in crisis, increased support for families and caregivers, decreased use

of emergency room and inpatient care, and increased understanding by the community of

behavioral health issues and those who experience a behavioral health crisis.

See page 225 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $10.0 million, including $5.0 million in the Mental Health

appropriation and $5.0 million in the Substance Abuse Treatment appropriation, for a new braided

program line entitled Crisis Systems. This represents an increase of $10.0 million from the FY 

2015 Enacted Level. Funding supports the Increasing Crisis Access Response Efforts (ICARE),

a demonstration activity to help communities build, fund, and sustain crisis systems capable of

preventing and deescalating behavioral health crises as well as connecting individuals and families

with needed post-crisis services. In many incidences, responses to these situations by emergency

medical responders and other behavioral health care providers are under- coordinated and unsustained. These grants will help mitigate the demand for inpatient beds by those with serious

mental illnesses and substance use disorders by coordinating effective crisis response with

ongoing outpatient services and supports. As a braided activity, SAMHSA will track separately

any amounts spent or awarded under Crisis Systems through its distinct appropriation and ensure

that funds are used for purposes consistent with legislative direction and intent of that 

appropriation. 

Other PRNS Treatment Programs 

FY 2016 Request: $58.5 million

(Reflects $1.0 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The FY 2016 budget includes resources of $58.5 million for several other Treatment Capacity

programs including: Pregnant and Post-Partum Women (PPW); Strengthening Treatment Access

and Retention; Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP); Children and Family Programs;

Addiction Technology Transfer Centers; and Special Initiatives/Outreach. The FY 2016 Budget 

includes funds for continuing grants and contracts in the various programs. Grant funding will

be used to enhance overall drug treatment quality by incentivizing treatment and service providers 

to achieve specific performance targets. Examples of grant awards could include 

305 
supplements for treatment and service providers who are able to connect higher proportions of 

detoxified patients with continuing recovery-oriented treatment; or for outpatient providers who

are able to successfully retain greater proportions of patients in active treatment participation for

longer time periods. 

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant

FY 2016 Request: $1.8 billion

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

The Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program (SABG) distributes funds 

to 60 eligible states, territories and freely associated states, the District of Columbia, and the Red

Lake Band of Chippewa Indians of Minnesota (states) to plan, carry out, and evaluate substance

abuse prevention, treatment and recovery support services provided for individuals, families, and

communities impacted by substance abuse and substance use disorders. 

See page 237 in the CSAT chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

In FY 2016, the budget request is $1.8 billion. This is equal to the FY 2015 Enacted Level. In

the FY 2016 request for the SABG, SAMHSA continues to be cognizant of new coverage for

some limited services for Substance Use Disorders (SUD) in some states, mostly after an addiction 

is already diagnosed. SAMHSA’s FY 2016 budget also recognizes the increased case finding 

and demand for services likely to be created by additional coverage options. Despite the wide

scale opportunity to obtain insurance coverage created by the Affordable Care Act, significant

gaps in coverage, as well as the subsequent reliance on the public behavioral health safety net,

are realities. Among the gaps, the states’ decision regarding Medicaid expansion is perhaps the 

most significant. To date, 24 states have chosen not to expand their Medicaid programs 

resulting in approximately 3.7 million Americans with behavioral health conditions 

without health insurance.71

Additionally, a recent report by the Urban Institute finds that adults with physical and/or mental

health issues, particularly those in low income families, have more difficulties obtaining and

affording health care than adults who reported no health problems. For adults with physical

and/or behavioral health issues, ongoing barriers to care exist even with full-year health insurance 

– affordability being the greatest barrier compared to healthier individuals.72 For example, after

state-based healthcare expansion efforts in Massachusetts, only 2.6 percent of state residents

were uninsured but yet more than 20 percent of clients admitted to substance abuse treatment

facilities were uninsured, even though they were eligible for some form of 

insurance coverage.

71 http://www.amhca.org/assets/content/AMHCA_DashedHopes_Report_2_21_14_final.pdf

72 http://hrms.urban.org/briefs/evidence-of-significant-gaps.html

306 
Health Surveillance and Program Support Appropriation

The FY 2016 Request is $144.7 million, which represents the Substance Abuse portion of the 

HSPS appropriation and supports staffing and activities to administer SAMHSA programs. This

includes: 

Health Surveillance and Program Support 

FY 2016 Request: $88.5 million

(Reflects $6.5 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

Health Surveillance and Program Support (HSPS) provides funding for personnel costs, building 

and facilities, equipment, supplies, administrative costs, and associated overhead to support 

SAMHSA programmatic activities, as well as provide funding for SAMHSA national data

collection and survey systems, funding to support the CDC NHIS Survey, and the data archive.

This request represents the total funding available for these activities first split into Mental

Health and Substance Abuse using the same percentages splits as between the Mental Health and

Substance Abuse (Prevention and Treatment) appropriation amounts. The Substance Abuse 

portion is then split 20 percent/80 percent into the two functions, prevention and treatment,

respectively.

See page 251 in the HSPS chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

A total of $88.5 million is requested in FY 2016 for Substance Abuse related Health Surveillance 

and Program Support activities. This is an increase of $6.5 million from the FY 2015 Enacted

Level. The additional funding in Health Surveillance supports the President’s Now is the Time

initiative. Specifically, this funding will be used for a new initiative, Science of Changing Social

Norms: Building the Evidence, to measure and track attitudes, behaviors and community norms 

regarding mental health and substance abuse. These data will enable SAMHSA to understand 

more fully the impact of social messaging, improve social acceptance of people with mental and

substance use disorders; expand understanding of the health, economic, and social impact of 

untreated behavioral health conditions; increase the willingness of Americans to seek help for

these issues; and help Americans see behavioral health as a public health priority. The Science

of Changing Social Norms will have a second component, Social Media, funded from Public

Awareness and Support. 

The additional funding increase for Program Support covers the additional costs associated with

the move to 5600 Fishers Lane in FY 2016 including extending the current building lease, the 

Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) loan repayment program, and security charges as part of 

government-wide efforts to reduce long-term rent and utility costs though reductions in per

person space use and periodic re-evaluation of competing lease offers.

307 
Public Awareness and Support

FY 2016 Request: $7.8 million

(Reflects $1.0 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

Public Awareness and Support provides funding to support the unified communications approach

to increase awareness of behavioral health, mental disorders and substance abuse issues. This

represents the total funding available for these activities first divided evenly between Mental

Health and Substance Abuse. The Substance Abuse portion is then split 20 percent/80 percent

into the two functions, prevention and treatment, respectively.

See page 257 in the HSPS chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

The FY 2016 request of $7.8 million will support the President’s Now is the Time initiative and

will allow SAMHSA to continue to streamline its web presence, develop innovative mobile apps, 

expand its presence on social media, and provide other critical resources to support behavioral 

health and other health. SAMHSA will use the increase to support the Science of Changing 

Social Norms, to develop and test an array of messages designed to improve social acceptance of

people with mental and substance use disorders; expand understanding of the health, economic,

and social impact of untreated behavioral health conditions; increase the willingness of

Americans to seek help for these issues; and help Americans see behavioral health as a public 

health priority.

Performance and Quality Information Systems

FY 2016 Request: $8.9 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

Performance and Quality Information Systems provides funding to support the Consolidated

Data Platform and CDP related activities, as well as provide support for a new contract for the 

National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices that will reduce the backlog of 

interventions accepted but not reviewed under the previous contract. This request represents the 

total funding available for these activities first split into Mental Health and Substance Abuse 

using the same percentages splits as between the Mental Health and Substance Abuse 

(Prevention and Treatment) appropriation amounts. The Substance Abuse portion is then split

20 percent/80 percent into the two functions, prevention and treatment, respectively.

See page 263 in the HSPS chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Budget Request

In FY 2016, these funds will be used to continue support for the National Registry of EvidenceBased Programs and Practices (NREPP), Common Data Platform (CDP) and Grantee Data

Development Technical Assistance.

308 
Agency-Wide Initiatives

FY 2016 Request: $38.8 million

(Reflects $15.5 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

Agency-Wide Initiatives provides funding for across Agency initiatives such as Minority 

Fellowship Program which improves the quality of mental health and substance abuse prevention

and treatment delivered to ethnic minorities by providing stipends to post-graduate students and

other Behavioral Health Workforce programs. This represents the total funding available for

these activities first divided evenly between Mental Health and Substance Abuse. The Substance 

Abuse portion is then split 20 percent/80 percent into the two functions, prevention and treatment,

respectively.

Behavioral Health Workforce

Minority Fellowship Program

As SAMHSA implements the Leading Change 2.0 Strategic Initiatives for 2015-2018, the new

Strategic Initiative on Workforce Development provides the opportunity for a concerted focus on

developing the behavioral health workforce. To increase the visibility of this issue and to

manage and administer workforce programs more efficiently, SAMHSA is realigning the 

Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) to Agency-Wide Initiatives.

See page 267 in the HSPS chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Behavioral Health Workforce Data and Development

As a result of the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act,

more than 60 million Americans have received first-time or expanded access to coverage for

services for mental and substance use disorders. 

See page 269 in the HSPS chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Peer Professional Workforce Development

The Peer Professional Workforce Development program’s goal is to increase the number of 

trained peers, recovery coaches, mental health/addiction specialists, prevention specialists, and

pre-masters-level addiction counselors working with youth ages 16 to 25. 

See page 270 in the HSPS chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

309 
SAMHSA-HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Grant

Program

In FY 2014, as part of the President’s Now is the Time initiative, SAMHSA was provided 

funding to collaborate with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the 

BHWET Grant Program.

See page 271 in the HSPS chapter for the start of the full description of this program.

Behavioral Health Workforce Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request includes $38.8 million in Substance Abuse related funding within

Behavioral Health Workforce, which is an increase of $15.5 million from the FY 2015 Enacted

Level. The request includes an increase for a new program entitled Peer Professional Workforce 

Development, which will award grants to provide tuition support and further the capacity of 

community colleges to develop and sustain behavioral health paraprofessional training and

education programs, resulting in 1,200 additional peer professionals in the behavioral health

workforce. The request also includes an increase over the FY 2015 Enacted Level for the 

SAMHSA-HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Grant

Program to expand the behavioral health workforce. The program will support the addition of 

approximately 5,600 health professionals to the workforce, an increase of 2,100 individuals over

FY 2015 levels. SAMHSA’s collective workforce efforts will help add several thousand new

professionals to the workforce each year.

Data Request and Publication User Fees

FY 2016 Request: $0.8 million

(Reflects level funding from the FY 2015 Enacted Level)

In 2016, SAMHSA estimates $0.8 million in Data Request and Publication User Fees. These

fees will be collected and retained for extraordinary data and publications requests. This represents

the total funding estimated for these activities first divided evenly between Mental Health and

Substance Abuse. The Substance Abuse portion is then split 20 percent/80 percent into the two 

functions, prevention and treatment, respectively.

310 
SAMHSA

Prevention and Public Health Fund

Table of Contents

SAMHSA/ Prevention and Public Health Fund

1. Summary of the Request................................................................................................. 313

2. Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration ............................................................ 315

3. GLS Youth Suicide Prevention....................................................................................... 316

4. Health Surveillance ......................................................................................................... 316

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312 
Prevention and Public Health Fund

Summary of the Request

(Dollars in thousands)

Prevention and Public Health Fund FY 2014 

Final

FY 2015 

Enacted

FY 2016

President's 

Budget 

FY 2016 

+/- 

FY 2015 

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration $--- $--- $26,004 $26,004

Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration TTA --- --- 1,996 1,996

Suicide Prevention 12,000 12,000 10,000 -2,000

National Strategy on Suicide Prevention (non-add) 2,000 --- --- ---

GLS- Youth Suicide Prevention-States (non-add) 5,800 12,000 10,000 -2,000

GLS-Youth Suicide Prevention- Campus 1500 --- --- ---

GLS-Suicide Prevention Resource Center (non-add) 1,000 --- --- ---

Suicide Lifeline (non-add) 1,700 --- --- ---

Health Surveillance --- --- 20,000 20,000

Total, Prevention and Public Health Fund 12,000 12,000 58,000 46,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request for the Prevention and Public Health Fund is $58.0 million, which

reflects a $46.0 million increase from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. The FY 2016 Prevention and

Public Health Fund request includes the following: 

• $28.0 million for Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration,

• $10.0 million for Suicide Prevention, and

• $20.0 million for Health Surveillance.

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314 
Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) program comprises competitive

cooperative agreements and the PBHCI Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Center, which

is co-funded with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program

supports the coordination and integration of primary care services into publicly funded 

community behavioral health settings. The expected outcome of improved health status for

people with Serious Mental Illnesses will be achieved by encouraging grantees to engage in

necessary partnerships, expand infrastructure, and increase the availability of primary health care

and wellness services to individuals with mental illness. Partnerships between primary care and

behavioral health organizations, as well as information technology entities, are crucial to the 

success of this program. The population of focus for this grant program is individuals with SMI

and/or people with co-occurring disorders served by the public mental health system.

For a complete description of the PBHCI program, see page 78. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount PPHF Funds

FY 2012 $47,428,000 $18,000,000

FY 2013 $45,421,000 $14,733,000

FY 2014 $47,258,000 ---

FY 2015 $47,258,000 ---

FY 2016 $49,428,000 $20,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $28.0 million for Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration

(PBHCI), a $23.9 million decrease from the FY 2015 Enacted Level. This funding will continue 

to support the coordination and integration of primary care services into publicly-funded 

community behavioral health settings. PBHCI grantees have made great strides in demonstrating

methods of integrating physical health care into specialty behavioral health settings for people 

with serious mental illnesses. This learning is being incorporated into SAMHSA guidance to the 

states around the block grants, SAMHSA’s consultation on the Medicaid health homes program,

implementation of the section 223 program, and into a broader focus on integration across

SAMHSA’s grant portfolio. 

315 
Suicide Prevention: GLS Youth Suicide Prevention

Program Description and Accomplishments

GLS Youth Suicide Prevention

The Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Memorial Act (Public Law 108-355) authorizes SAMHSA to

manage two significant youth suicide prevention programs and one resource center. These

grants develop and implement youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies

involving public-private collaborations among youth-serving institutions.

For a complete description of the GLS Youth Suicide Prevention program, see page 84. 

Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount PPHF Funds

FY 2012 $47,428,000 $18,000,000

FY 2013 $45,421,000 $14,733,000

FY 2014 $47,258,000 ---

FY 2015 $47,258,000 ---

FY 2016 $49,428,000 $20,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget Request is $41.9 million at the program level with $31.9 million from

Budget Authority (BA) and $10.0 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF).

This is the same as FY 2015 Enacted Level with a $2.0 million decrease from PPHF and a 

$2.0 million increase in BA. SAMHSA requests funding to continue developing and

implementing youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies involving public-private 

collaborations among youth serving institutions. In addition, the funding will support prevention

of suicide and suicide attempts at institutions of higher education. 

Health Surveillance

Program Description and Accomplishments

The Health Surveillance budget supports many of the critical behavioral health data systems,

national surveys, and surveillance activities for Health and Human Services undertaken by

SAMHSA to support SAMHSA grantees, the field, and the public. 

For a complete description of the programs supported by Health Surveillance budget, see page

251. 

316 
Funding History

Fiscal Year Amount PPHF Funds

FY 2012 $47,428,000 $18,000,000

FY 2013 $45,421,000 $14,733,000

FY 2014 $47,258,000 ---

FY 2015 $47,258,000 ---

FY 2016 $49,428,000 $20,000,000

Budget Request

The FY 2016 Budget requests $49.4 million, an increase of $2.2 million from the FY 2015 

Enacted Level. This additional funding supports the President’s Now is the Time initiative.

Specifically, this funding will be used for a new initiative, Science of Changing Social Norms:

Building the Evidence, to measure and track attitudes, behaviors and community norms

regarding mental health and substance abuse. These data will enable SAMHSA to understand 

more fully the impact of social messaging, improve social acceptance of people with mental and

substance use disorders; expand understanding of the health, economic, and social impact of 

untreated behavioral health conditions; increase the willingness of Americans to seek help for

these issues; and help Americans see behavioral health as a public health priority. The Science

of Changing Social Norms will have a second component, Social Media, funded from Public 

Awareness and Support. 

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318 
SAMHSA

Supplementary Tables

Table of Contents

SAMHSA/Supplementary Tables

1. Budget Authority by Object Classification Tables........................................................ 321

2. Salaries and Expenses Tables........................................................................................ 331

3. Detail of Full Time Equivalent Employee (FTE).......................................................... 333

4. Detail of Positions ......................................................................................................... 334

5. Programs Proposed for Elimination .............................................................................. 335

6. FTEs Funded by the Affordable Care Act..................................................................... 336

7. Physicians’ Comparability Allowance (PCA) Worksheet ............................................. 337

319 
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320 
Budget Authority by Object Classification Tables

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Total Budget Authority – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2015 FY2016 FY2016

Object Class - Direct Budget (1),(2),(3),(4) Authority

FY2014

Final

Enacted

Level

President's

Budget FY

+/-

2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent (11.1) 48,319 50,108 50,024 - 084

Other than full-time permanent (11.3) 3,027 3,134 3,147 + 013

Other personnel compensation(11.5) 627 650 648 - 002

Militarypersonnel(11.7) 3,286 3,680 3,426 - 254

Special personnelservices payments(11.8) 27 --- --- ---

Subtotal personnel compensation: 55,286 57,573 57,246 - 327

Civilian benefits(12.1) 14,693 15,235 15,474 + 239

Militarybenefits(12.2) 1,703 1,900 1,803 - 097

Subtotal Pay Costs: 71,681 74,707 74,522 - 185

Travel andtransportation of persons(21.0) 1,108 1,235 1,235 ---

Transportation of things(22.0) 36 7 7 ---

Rental paymentsto GSA(23.1) 6,481 9,558 12,153 + 2,595

Rental paymentsto Others (23.2) 2 508 534 + 026

Communication,utilities, andmisc.charges(23.3) 447 880 1,296 + 416

Printingandreproduction (24.0) 1,674 1,222 1,227 + 005

OtherContractual Services:

Advisoryandassistance services(25.1) 26,747 26,067 26,067 ---

Otherservices(25.2) (25.9) 169,252 156,379 152,494 - 3,885

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 39,662 33,432 33,432 ---

Operation andmaintenance of facilities (25.4) 1,604 301 301 ---

Research andDevelopmentContracts(25.5) --- 870 870 ---

Operation andmaintenance of equipment (25.7) 229 293 293 ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 237,495 217,342 213,457 - 3,885

Supplies andmaterials(26.0) 184 238 238 ---

Equipment (31.0) 573 368 368 ---

Grants,subsidies, andcontributions(41.0) 3,167,857 3,179,980 3,148,626 - 31,354

Interest and dividends(43.0) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Non-PayCosts 3,415,858 3,411,338 3,379,141 - 32,197

Total Direct Obligations 3,487,539 3,486,045 3,453,663 - 32,382

1) Does not include PHS EVALFunds.

2) Includes Prevention andPublic Health Funds.

3) Includes AgencyWide Initiatives

4) Does not include user fees

321 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Mental Health Services

Budget Authority – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

Object Class - Direct Budget (1),(2),(3),(4) Authority

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

Level

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY

FY

2016

+/-

2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent (11.1) 712 808 818 + 011

Other than full-time permanent (11.3) 82 93 94 + 001

Other personnel compensation (11.5) 5 6 6 + 000

Military personnel (11.7) 32 --- --- ---

Special personnel services payments (11.8) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal personnel compensation: 831 907 919 + 012

Civilian benefits (12.1) 238 271 279 + 008

Military benefits (12.2) 24 --- --- ---

Subtotal Pay Costs: 1,094 1,178 1,198 + 020

Travel and transportation of persons (21.0) 36 232 232 ---

Transportation of things (22.0) --- --- --- ---

Rental payments to GSA(23.1) --- 3,635 2,024 - 1,610

Rental payments to Others (23.2) --- 193 193 ---

Communication, utilities, and misc. charges (23.3) 194 186 602 + 416

Printing and reproduction (24.0) 447 37 37 ---

Other Contractual Services:

Advisory and assistance services (25.1) 14,213 15,000 15,000 ---

Other services (25.2) (25.9) 53,503 51,400 51,722 + 322

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 16,039 16,740 16,740 ---

Operation and maintenance of facilities (25.4) 1,576 235 235 ---

Research and Development Contracts (25.5) --- 870 870 ---

Operation and maintenance of equipment (25.7) 4 32 32 ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 85,335 84,277 84,599 + 322

Supplies and materials (26.0) --- 5 5 ---

Equipment (31.0) 258 3 3 ---

Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) 969,290 960,132 962,735 + 2,603

Interest and dividends (43.0) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Non-Pay Costs 1,055,560 1,048,699 1,050,430 + 1,731

Total Direct Obligations 1,056,654 1,049,877 1,051,628 + 1,751

1) Does not include PHS EVAL Funds.

2) Includes Prevention and Public Health Funds.

3) Does not in Agency Wide Initiatives

322 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Substance Abuse Prevention

Budget Authority – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

Object Class - Direct Budget Authority(1),(2),(3),(4)

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted

Level

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/-

FY2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent (11.1) --- --- --- ---

Other than full-time permanent (11.3) --- --- --- ---

Other personnel compensation (11.5) --- --- --- ---

Military personnel (11.7) --- --- --- ---

Special personnel services payments (11.8) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal personnel compensation: --- --- --- ---

Civilian benefits (12.1) --- --- --- ---

Military benefits (12.2) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Pay Costs: --- --- --- ---

Travel and transportation of persons (21.0) --- --- --- ---

Transportation of things (22.0) 4 --- --- ---

Rental payments to GSA (23.1) 65 1,161 647 - 515

Rental payments to Others (23.2) --- 62 62 ---

Communication, utilities, and misc. charges (23.3) 253 33 33 ---

Printing and reproduction (24.0) 595 230 230 ---

Other Contractual Services:

Advisory and assistance services (25.1) 4,391 2,878 2,878 ---

Other services (25.2) (25.9) 30,029 30,739 26,532 - 4,207

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 4,720 2,392 2,392 ---

Operation and maintenance of facilities (25.4) 28 66 66 ---

Research and Development Contracts (25.5) --- --- --- ---

Operation and maintenance of equipment (25.7) 211 175 175 ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 39,379 36,250 32,043 - 4,207

Supplies and materials (26.0) 8 5 5 ---

Equipment ( 31.0) 174 --- --- ---

Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) 134,651 137,407 161,431 + 24,024

Interest and dividends (43.0) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Non-Pay Costs 175,129 175,148 194,450 + 19,302

Total Direct Obligations 175,129 175,148 194,450 + 19,302

1) Does not include PHS EVAL Funds.

2) Includes Prevention and Public Health Funds.

3) Does not in Agency Wide Initiatives

323 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Substance Abuse Treatment

Budget Authority – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2016

Object Class - Direct Budget (1),(2),(3) Authority

FY 2014

Final

Enacted

Level

President's

Budget

+/-

FY 2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent(11.1) 2,755 2,740 2,967 + 227

Other thanfull-time permanent(11.3) 365 363 393 +030

Other personnel compensation(11.5) 26 26 28 +002

Militarypersonnel(11.7) 127 129 130 +002

Special personnelservices payments(11.8) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal personnel compensation: 3,275 3,258 3,519 + 261

Civilianbenefits(12.1) 935 929 1,023 + 094

Militarybenefits(12.2) 51 52 53 +002

Subtotal PayCosts: 4,260 4,238 4,595 +356

Travel andtransportation of persons(21.0) 167 150 150 ---

Transportation of things(22.0) --- --- --- ---

Rental paymentsto GSA(23.1) 6,341 3,541 1,972 - 1,569

Rental payments to Others (23.2) --- 188 188 ---

Communication, utilities, andmisc. charges(23.3) --- 459 459 ---

Printingandreproduction(24.0) 521 835 835 ---

OtherContractual Services:

Advisoryandassistance services(25.1) 6,846 6,826 6,826 ---

Otherservices(25.2) (25.9) 48,483 35,982 35,982 ---

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 5,911 6,000 6,000 ---

Operation andmaintenance of facilities(25.4) --- --- --- ---

ResearchandDevelopmentContracts(25.5) --- --- --- ---

Operation andmaintenance of equipment (25.7) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 61,240 48,809 48,809 ---

Supplies andmaterials (26.0) 12 25 25 ---

Equipment(31.0) --- --- --- ---

Grants,subsidies, andcontributions(41.0) 2,022,399 2,041,873 1,974,324 - 67,549

Interest anddividends(43.0) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Non-PayCosts 2,090,681 2,095,881 2,026,762 - 69,118

Total Direct Obligations 2,094,941 2,100,119 2,031,357 - 68,762

1)DoesnotincludePHSEVALFunds.

2) Includes Prevention andPublic Health Funds.

3) DoesnotinAgencyWideInitiatives

324 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Health Surveillance and Program Support

Budget Authority – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2015 FY2016 FY2016

Object Class - Direct Budget (1),(2),(3),(4) Authority

FY2014

Final

Enacted

Level

President's

Budget FY

+/-

2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent (11.1) 44,851 46,561 46,239 - 322

Other than full-time permanent (11.3) 2,579 2,678 2,659 - 018

Other personnel compensation (11.5) 596 618 614 - 004

Military personnel (11.7) 3,127 3,551 3,296 - 255

Special personnel services payments (11.8) 27 --- --- ---

Subtotal personnel compensation: 51,180 53,408 52,808 - 600

Civilian benefits (12.1) 13,520 14,035 14,172 + 137

Military benefits (12.2) 1,627 1,848 1,749 - 099

Subtotal Pay Costs: 66,327 69,291 68,729 - 562

Travel and transportation of persons (21.0) 905 853 853 ---

Transportation of things (22.0) 31 7 7 ---

Rental payments to GSA (23.1) 76 1,221 7,510 + 6,289

Rental payments to Others (23.2) 2 65 91 + 026

Communication, utilities, and misc. charges (23.3) --- 202 202 ---

Printing and reproduction (24.0) 111 120 125 + 005

Other Contractual Services:

Advisory and assistance services (25.1) 1,298 1,363 1,363 ---

Other services (25.2) (25.9) 37,237 38,257 38,257 ---

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 12,991 8,300 8,300 ---

Operation and maintenance of facilities (25.4) --- --- --- ---

Research and Development Contracts (25.5) --- --- --- ---

Operation and maintenance of equipment (25.7) 14 86 86 ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 51,541 48,006 48,006 ---

Supplies and materials (26.0) 164 203 203 ---

Equipment (31.0) 141 365 365 ---

Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) 41,518 40,568 50,137 + 9,568

Interest and dividends (43.0) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Non-Pay Costs 94,488 91,610 107,499 + 15,889

Total Direct Obligations 160,815 160,901 176,228 + 15,327

1) Does not include PHS EVAL Funds.

2) Includes Prevention and Public Health Funds.

3) Includes Agency Wide Initiatives

4) Does not include user fees

325 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Total PHS Evaluation Funds – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2015 FY2016 FY2016

Object Class - Direct Budget (1),(2),(3),(4) Authority

FY2014

Final

Enacted

Level

President's

Budget FY

+/-

2015

Personnel 

Full Time

Compensation:

Permanent (11.1) 6,519 10,166 11,033 + 868

Other than Full-Time Permanent (11.3) 362 431 642 + 211

Other Personnel Compensation (11.5) 48 57 82 + 025

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 651 894 1,127 + 233

Subtotal Personnel Compensation: 7,581 11,548 12,885 + 1,337

Civilian Personnel Benefits (12.1) 1,971 3,055 3,384 + 330

Military Personnel Benefits (12.2) 365 500 647 + 147

Subtotal Pay Costs: 9,917 15,103 16,916 + 1,814

Travel ( 21.0) 21 183 183 ---

Transportation of things (22.0) 9 --- --- ---

Communications, Utilities and Misc. Charges (23.3) --- 174 174 ---

Printing and Reproduction (24.0) 930 328 328 ---

Other Contractual Services:

Advisory and assistance services (25.1) --- 3,492 3,492 ---

Other services (25.2)(25.9) 114,558 109,589 149,318 + 39,729

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 6,044 3,492 3,492 ---

Operation and maintenance of equipment (25.7) 3 --- --- ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 120,605 116,573 156,302 + 39,729

Supplies and Materials (26.0) 5 129 129 ---

Equipment ( 31.0) 18 15 15 ---

Grants, Subsidies, and Contributions (41.0) 1,162 1,162 36,576 + 35,414

Subtotal Non-Pay Costs 122,750 118,564 193,708 + 75,143

Total Reimbursable Obligations 132,667 133,667 210,624 + 76,957

326 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Mental Health Services

PHS Evaluation Funds – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2016

Object Class - PHS Evaluation

FY 2014

Final

Enacted 

Level

President's

Budget FY

+/- 

2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent (11.1) 1,532 1,810 1,834 + 024

Other than full-time permanent (11.3) --- --- --- ---

Other personnel compensation (11.5) 13 15 15 + 000

Military personnel (11.7) 144 251 254 + 003

Subtotal personnel compensation: 1,689 2,076 2,103 + 027

Civilian benefits (12.1) 441 521 536 + 016

Military benefits (12.2) 86 150 154 + 004

Subtotal Pay Costs: 2,216 2,747 2,794 + 047

Travel and transportation of persons (21.0) 20 61 61 ---

Transportation of things (22.0) --- --- --- ---

Communication, utilities, and misc. charges (23.3) --- 58 58 ---

Printing and reproduction (24.0) 27 144 144 ---

Other Contractual Services:

Advisory and assistance services (25.1) --- --- --- ---

Other services (25.2) (25.9) 18,770 17,981 22,934 + 4,953

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) --- --- --- ---

Operation and maintenance of equipment (25.7) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 18,770 17,981 22,934 + 4,953

Supplies and materials (26.0) 5 43 43 ---

Equipment (31.0) 1 5 5 ---

Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Non-Pay Costs 18,823 18,292 23,245 + 4,953

Total Reimbursable Obligations 21,039 21,039 26,039 + 5,000

327 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Substance Abuse Prevention

PHS Evaluation Funds – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2016

Object Class - PHS Evaluation

FY 2014

Final

Enacted 

Level

President's

Budget FY

+/- 

2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent (11.1) --- --- --- ---

Other than full-time permanent (11.3) --- --- --- ---

Other personnel compensation (11.5) --- --- --- ---

Military personnel (11.7) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal personnel compensation:

Civilian benefits (12.1) --- --- --- ---

Military benefits (12.2) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Pay Costs:

Travel and transportation of persons (21.0) --- --- --- ---

Transportation of things (22.0) --- --- --- ---

Communication, utilities, and misc. charges (23.3) --- --- --- ---

Printing and reproduction (24.0) --- --- --- ---

Other Contractual Services:

Advisory and assistance services (25.1) --- --- --- ---

Other services (25.2) (25.9) --- --- 8,762 + 8,762

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) --- --- --- ---

Operation and maintenance of equipment (25.7) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: --- --- 8,762 + 8,762

Supplies and materials (26.0) --- --- --- ---

Equipment (31.0) --- --- --- ---

Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) --- --- 7,706 + 7,706

Subtotal Non-Pay Costs --- --- 7,706 + 7,706

Total Reimbursable Obligations --- --- 16,468 + 16,468

328 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Substance Abuse Treatment

PHS Evaluation Funds – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2015 FY2016 FY2016

Object Class - PHSEvaluation

FY2014

Final

Enacted 

Level

President's

Budget FY

+/-

2015

Personnelcompensation:

Full-time permanent(11.1) 2,597 5,251 5,446 + 195

Other than full-time permanent(11.3) 140 282 293 + 010

Other personnel compensation(11.5) 21 42 43 + 002

Militarypersonnel(11.7) 89 180 91 - 089

Subtotal personnel compensation: 2,846 5,754 5,873 + 118

Civilianbenefits (12.1) 756 1,529 1,612 + 083

Military benefits(12.2) 45 91 47 - 044

Subtotal PayCosts: 3,647 7,374 7,531 + 158

Travel andtransportation of persons(21.0) --- 61 61 ---

Transportation of things (22.0) --- --- --- ---

Communication,utilities, andmisc. charges(23.3) --- 58 58 ---

Printingandreproduction(24.0) 903 144 144 ---

OtherContractual Services:

Advisoryandassistance services(25.1) --- 1,692 1,692 ---

Otherservices(25.2) (25.9) 72,163 68,969 69,103 + 134

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 3,321 1,692 1,692 ---

Operation andmaintenance of equipment(25.7) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 75,484 72,353 72,487 + 134

Supplies andmaterials (26.0) --- 43 43 ---

Equipment(31.0) 4 5 5 ---

Grants,subsidies, andcontributions(41.0) 1,162 1,162 28,871 + 27,709

Subtotal Non-PayCosts 77,553 73,826 101,669 + 27,842

Total ReimbursableObligations 81,200 81,200 109,200 + 28,000

329 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Health Surveillance and Program Support

PHS Evaluation Funds – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2015 FY2016 FY2016

Object Class - PHSEvaluation

FY2014

Final

Enacted 

Level

President's

Budget

+/- FY

2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent (11.1) 2,390 3,105 3,754 + 649

Other than full-time permanent (11.3) 222 149 349 + 200

Other personnel compensation (11.5) 15 - 24 + 024

Military personnel (11.7) 418 463 782 + 319

Subtotal personnel compensation: 3,045 3,717 4,909 + 1,192

Civilian benefits (12.1) 774 1,006 1,236 + 231

Military benefits (12.2) 235 260 446 + 186

Subtotal Pay Costs: 4,054 4,982 6,591 + 1,609

Travel and transportation of persons (21.0) 1 61 61 ---

Transportation of things (22.0) 9 --- --- ---

Communication, utilities, and misc. charges (23.3) --- 58 58 ---

Printing and reproduction (24.0) --- 40 40 ---

Other Contractual Services:

Advisory and assistance services (25.1) --- 1,800 1,800 ---

Other services (25.2) (25.9) 23,626 22,639 48,519 + 25,880

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 2,723 1,800 1,800 ---

Operation and maintenance of equipment (25.7) 3 --- --- ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 26,351 26,239 52,119 + 25,880

Supplies and materials (26.0) --- 43 43 ---

Equipment (31.0) 13 5 5 ---

Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) --- --- --- ---

Subtotal Non-Pay Costs 26,374 26,446 52,326 + 25,880

Total Reimbursable Obligations 30,428 31,428 58,917 + 27,489

330 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Salaries and Expenses Tables

Direct Budget Authority – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

FY2015 FY2016 FY2016

Object Class

FY2014

Final

Enacted 

Level

President's

Budget FY

+/-

2015

Personnelcompensation:

Full-time permanent(11.1) 48,319 50,108 50,024 - 084

Other than full-time permanent(11.3) 3,027 3,134 3,147 + 013

Other personnel compensation(11.5) 627 650 648 - 002

Militarypersonnel(11.7) 3,286 3,680 3,426 - 254

Special personnelservices payments(11.8) 27 --- --- ---

Subtotal personnel compensation 55,286 57,573 57,246 - 327

Civilianbenefits (12.1) 14,693 15,235 15,474 + 239

Military benefits(12.2) 1,703 1,900 1,803 - 097

Subtotal PayCosts: 71,681 74,707 74,522 - 185

Travel (21.0) 1,108 1,235 1,235 ---

Transportation of things (22.0) 36 7 7 ---

Rental payments to Others (23.2) 2 508 534 + 026

Communication,utilities, andmisc. charges(23.3) 447 880 1,296 + 416

Printingandreproduction(24.0) 1,674 1,222 1,227 + 005

OtherContractual Services:

Advisoryandassistance services(25.1) 26,747 26,067 26,067 ---

Otherservices (25.2) 169,252 156,379 152,494 - 3,885

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 39,662 33,432 33,432 ---

Operationandmaintenance of facilities(25.4) 1,604 301 301 ---

ResearchandDevelopmentContracts(25.5) - 870 870 ---

Operation andmaintenance of equipment(25.7) 229 293 293 ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 237,495 217,342 213,457 - 3,885

Supplies andmaterials (26.0) 184 238 238 ---

Subtotal Non-PayCosts 240,946 221,431 217,993 - 3,438

Total Salary andExpenses 312,627 296,139 292,515 - 3,623

Rental Payments to GSA(23.1) 6,481 9,558 12,153 + 2,595

GrandTotal, Salaries & Expenses andRent 319,109 305,697 304,669 - 1,028

Direct FTE 519 535 525 - 10

331 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Salaries and Expenses Tables

PHS Evaluation Funds – Object Class

(Dollars in thousands)

Object Class(1)

FY2014

Final

FY2015

Enacted 

Level

FY2016

President's

Budget

FY2016

+/- 

FY2015

Personnel compensation:

Full-time permanent(11.1) 6,519 10,166 11,033 + 868

Other thanfull-time permanent (11.3) 362 431 642 + 211

Other personnel compensation (11.5) 48 57 82 + 025

Militarypersonnel(11.7) 651 894 1,127 + 233

Subtotal personnel compensation 7,581 11,548 12,885 + 1,337

Civilianbenefits(12.1) 1,971 3,055 3,384 + 330

Militarybenefits(12.2) 365 500 647 + 147

Subtotal Pay Costs: 9,917 15,103 16,916 + 1,814

Travel (21.0) 21 183 183 ---

Transportationof things(22.0) 9 --- --- ---

Communication,utilities, andmisc. charges (23.3) --- 174 174 ---

Printing andreproduction (24.0) 930 328 328 ---

Other Contractual Services:

--- 3,492 3,492 --- Advisory and assistance services (25.1)

Otherservices(25.2) 114,558 109,589 149,318 + 39,729

Purchase Goods & Services Government Accounts(25.3) 6,044 3,492 3,492 ---

Operation andmaintenance of equipment (25.7) 3 --- --- ---

Subtotal Other Contractual Services: 120,605 116,573 156,302 + 39,729

Supplies andmaterials(26.0) 5 129 --- - 129

Equipment(31.0) 18 15 --- - 015

Subtotal Non-Pay Costs 121,570 117,387 156,987 + 39,600

Total Salary andExpenses 131,487 132,490 173,904 + 41,414

Rental Payments to GSA(23.1) --- --- --- ---

GrandTotal, Salaries & Expenses and Rent 131,487 132,490 173,904 + 41,414

Reimbursable FTE(1) 67 100 110 + 10

(1) Does not include Other reimbursable FTE's (30) and associated Object Class Cost.

332 
Detail of Full Time Equivalent Employee (FTE)

2014 

Actual 

Civilian

2014 

Actual 

Military

2014 

Actual 

Total

2015 

Est. 

Civilian

2015 

Est. 

Military

2015 

Est. 

Total

2016 

Est. 

Civilian

2016 

Est. 

Military

2016 

Est. 

Total

Health Surveillance and Program Support

Direct 446 33 479 458 37 495 449 34 483

Reimbursable 24 10 34 31 11 42 37 15 52

Total 470 43 513 489 48 537 486 49 535

Mental Health Services

Direct 9 1 10 10 0 10 10 0 10

Reimbursable 18 2 20 21 3 24 21 3 24

Total 27 3 30 31 3 34 31 3 34

Substance Abuse Prevention

Direct - - - - - - - - -

Reimbursable 17 3 20 17 3 20 17 3 20

Total 17 3 20 17 3 20 17 3 20

Substance Abuse Treatment

Direct 29 1 30 29 1 30 31 1 32

Reimbursable 21 1 22 42 2 44 43 1 44

Total 50 2 52 71 3 74 74 2 76

OPDIV FTE Total 564 51 615 608 57 665 608 57 665

FY2012 13 Step 7

FY2013 13 Step 7

FY2014 13 Step 7

FY2015 13 Step 7

FY2016 13 Step 8

333 
Detail of Positions

FY 2014 Actual FY 2015 Enacted FY 2016 President's 

Budget

Executive Level IV 1 1 1

Subtotal 1 1 1

Total - Exec Level Salaries $155,500 $155,500 $155,500 

SES 13 13 15

Subtotal 13 13 15

Total, SES salaries $2,843,080 $2,871,510 $3,346,414 

GM/GS-15/EE 77 79 79

GM/GS-14 138 138 138

GM/GS-13 210 210 208

GS-12 56 62 62

GS-11 22 25 25

GS-10 1 1 1

GS-09 12 16 16

GS-08 23 25 25

GS-07 18 23 23

GS-06 8 10 10

GS-05 3 5 5

GS-04 0 0 0

GS-03 0 0 0

GS-02 0 0 0

Subtotal 568 594 592

Total, GS salaries $58,124,967 $63,892,084 $64,286,423 

CC-08/09 1 1 1

CC-07 0 0 0

CC-06 14 15 15

CC-05 16 16 16

CC-04 18 18 18

CC-03 6 7 7

CC-02 0 0 0

Subtotal 55 57 57

Total, CC salaries $4,636,488 $5,273,870 $5,259,500 

Total Positions (1) 637 665 665

Average ES level ES ES ES

Average ES salary $155,500 $155,500 $155,500 

Average ES level SES SES SES

Average ES salary $218,698 $220,885 $223,094 

Average GS grade 13.7 13.7 13.8

Average GS salary $102,333 $107,562 $108,592 

Average CC level 4.6 4.8 4.8

Average CC salaries $84,300 $92,524 $92,272 

(1) This figure represents on-board staff.

334 
Programs Proposed for Elimination

The following table shows the programs proposed for elimination in the President’s FY 2016 

Budget Request. Termination of this program allows SAMHSA to redirect approximately

$38.2 million from the FY 2015 Enacted Level for substance abuse treatment programs that have 

a demonstrated record of success or that hold significant promise for increasing accountability

and improving behavioral health outcomes. Following the table is a brief summary of the

program and rationale for its elimination.

Program FY 2015 Enacted (in Millions)

Access to Recovery $38.2

Access to Recovery (-$38.2 million)73

SAMHSA is proposing eliminating the Access to Recovery (ATR) program in FY 2016. Many

of the clinical services provided under ATR will now be covered by public and private insurance.

In addition, states are able to support recovery support services and client choice with Substance

Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funding. Since 2004, ATR has served over 650,000 

clients through 75 grantees. SAMHSA has been able to identify successful substance abuse

treatment and recovery-oriented systems of care models and will continue to offer technical

assistance to states that would like to continue this activity.

73 The Access to Recovery program was previously proposed for elimination in the FY 2015 President’s Budget

request.

335 
FTEs Funded by the Affordable Care Act

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(Dollars in thousands)

Program Section

FY 2012

Total FTEs CEs

FY 2013

Total FTEs CEs

FY 2014

Total FTEs CEs

FY 2015

Total FTEs CEs

FY 2016

Total FTEs CEs

PrimaryandBehavioralHealth

CareIntegration

Discretionary

Mandatory 4002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Suicide Prevention

Discretionary

Mandatory

4002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Health Surveillance

Discretionary

Mandatory 4002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

336 
Physicians’ Comparability Allowance (PCA) Worksheet

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(Whole dollars)

PY 2014

(Actuals)

CY 2015

(Estimates)

BY 20161

(Estimates)

1) Number of Physicians Receiving PCAs 4

---

4

$149,703

$18,500

5

---

5

$152,016

$18,000

5

---

5

$152,016

$18,000

2) Number of Physicians with One-Year PCA Agreements

3) Number of Physicians with Multi-Year PCA Agreements

4) Average Annual PCA Physician Pay (without PCA payment)

5) Average Annual PCA Payment

6) Number of Physicians

Receiving PCAs by Category

(non-add)

Category I Clinical Position ---

---

---

---

4

---

---

---

---

5

---

---

---

---

5

Category II Research Position

Category III Occupational Health

Category IV-A Disability Evaluation

Category IV-B Health and Medical Admin.

1 FY 2016 data will be approved during the FY 2017 Budget cycle.

7) If applicable, list and explain the necessity of any additional physician categories designated by your agency (for categories

other than I through IV-B). Provide the number of PCA agreements per additional category for the PY, CY and BY.

N/A

8) Provide the maximumannual PCA amount paid to each category of physician in your agency and explain the reasoning for

these amounts by category.

$30.000.00 - based on years of education, experience and the position held by the incumbent. Amount is required to retain the

employee.

9) Explain the recruitment and retention problem(s) for each category of physician in your agency (this should demonstrate that a

current need continues to persist).

10) Explain the degree to which recruitment and retention problems were alleviated in your agency through the use of PCAs in

the prior fiscal year.

We have to offer PCAs because our salaries are not competitive with the private sector (e.g., we might offer 75% of a physician's

salary on the outside). In addition, physicians of interest to SAMHSA often have income fromconsulting as well. The PCA is 

the only way to raise the government income so as to make the offer acceptable.

11) Provide any additional information that may be useful in planning PCA staffing levels and amounts in your agency.

N/A

SAMHSA currently has two medical officer vacancies. The GS position was created on 6/29/2014 and the SES position was

vacated on 10/3/2014. SAMHSA is currently going through the recruitment process for both positions. The job vacancy

announcement for GS position closed on 12/26/2014 and a selection is anticipated to be made in early 2015. The SES slot

request package is currently being drafted for Departmental approval.

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338 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SIGNIFICANT ITEMS IN SENATE REPORT

FY 2015 Consolidated Senate Report Language 

(OMNIBUS - PL 113-235)

General Items

Item – Page 58

Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans - Many localities have successfully used

customized web portals to assist veterans struggling with mental health and substance abuse

issues. SAMHSA is encouraged to promote locally-customized web portals in order to expand

their use nationwide. 

Action taken or to be taken

SAMHSA encourages all grantees to address the behavioral health needs of returning veterans

and their families in designing and developing their programs and to consider prioritizing this

population for services where appropriate. SAMHSA will encourage its grantees to utilize and

provide technical assistance regarding locally-customized web portals that assist veterans and

their families with finding behavioral health treatment and support. SAMHSA is requesting

$4.0 million to expand the Mental Health First Aid program to reach 55,000 individuals who

work with veterans, military service members and their families

Item – Page 58

Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Integration - The agreement directs SAMHSA to ensure 

that new Integration grants awarded for FY 2015 are funded under the authorities in section

520K of the PHS Act.

Action taken or to be taken

SAMHSA will ensure that new Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Integration grants awarded

for FY 2015 are funded under the authorities in section 520K of the PHS Act.

Item – Page 60

Addiction Technology Transfer Centers - The agreement rejects the administration request to

reduce funding for the ATTCs. SAMHSA is directed to ensure that ATTCs maintain a primary

focus on addiction treatment and recovery services.

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Action taken or to be taken

FY 2015 funding for the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers is maintained at the FY 2014 

level. The ATTCs will continue to maintain primary focus on addiction treatment and recovery.

Item – Pages 60-61

Criminal Justice Activities - SAMHSA is directed to ensure that all Drug Treatment Court 

funding is allocated to serve people diagnosed with a substance use disorder as their primary

condition. SAMHSA is further directed to ensure that all drug treatment court grant recipients

work directly with the corresponding state substance abuse agency in the planning, 

implementation, and evaluation of the grant. SAMHSA is further directed to expand training and

technical assistance to drug treatment court grant recipients to ensure evidence-based practices

are fully implemented. SAMHSA is directed to make Criminal Justice funding available for

competitive grants to community-based providers through the Offender Reentry Program to

implement overdose prevention programs for incarcerated and recently released individuals. The

Administrator is directed to ensure an equitable amount of grant opportunities are available to

grantees that serve those currently in custody, prior to release from incarceration, and continue

for at least two months post-release into community-based services as part of a transition plan.

Action taken or to be taken

SAMHSA’s FY 2015 Drug Treatment Court grant funding will be utilized to provide services for

individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder as their primary condition. Additionally,

Drug Treatment Court applicants are required to include a letter of support from the state

Substance Abuse Agency (SSA) Director or designated representative that provides support for

the application and confirms that the proposal conforms to the framework of the state strategy of

substance abuse treatment. SAMHSA requires that applications received without this letter will

not be reviewed or funded. In terms of technical assistance, the FY 2015 Clinical Technical

Assistance contract, when awarded, will be increased to expand services to SAMHSA Drug

Treatment Court grantees. Finally, the FY 2015 Request for Application for the Offender

Reentry Program will require that applicants provide, as part of their service delivery for both 

soon-to-be released and released individuals, overdose prevention programs, including an

educational component that contains SAMHSA’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit. 

Item – Pages 61-62

Opioid Treatment Education and Training Programs - SAMHSA is directed to update all of its

professional education and training programs for opioid treatment programs (OTPs), officebased opioid treatment programs (OBOTs) and other addiction treatment settings, such that

evidence-based innovations in counseling, recovery support, and abstinence-based relapse

prevention medication assisted treatments, are fully incorporated. 

340 
Action taken or to be taken

SAMHSA is taking concrete steps to update its workforce education and training initiatives. The

opioid treatment program (OTP) training curriculum is being revised to take into account the 

Federal Opioid Treatment Program Guidelines. These Guidelines were last modified in 2007. 

The revisions will incorporate new information on recovery support, relapse prevention, 

counseling, overdose prevention and medications such as extended release injectable naltrexone. 

The buprenorphine training curriculum is also undergoing changes and an Advisory on clinical

updates related to buprenorphine is in development. In January, SAMHSA released Clinical Use

of Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Brief

Guide and plans to release another guide focused on the use of Extended-Release Injectable

Naltrexone for alcohol abuse treatment.

Item – Page 62

Prescription Drug and Heroin Treatment - The agreement directs the Center for Substance 

Abuse Treatment (CSAT) to ensure that these grants include as an allowable use the support of

medication assisted treatment and other clinically appropriate services. These grants should be 

made available to states with the highest rates of primary treatment admissions for heroin and

opioids per capita, and should target those states that have demonstrated a dramatic increase in

admissions for the treatment opioids and heroin in recent years.

Action taken or to be taken

SAMHSA will release a Request for Application for grants to states to expand medication

assisted treatment (MAT) services for persons with opioid use disorder. The program will target

those states experiencing the highest rates of primary treatment admissions for heroin and opioids 

per capita and a dramatic increase in admissions for treatment of opioids and heroin in recent

years. This program will increase the number of states from 11 to 22 that receive funding to

expand services that address prescription drug misuse and heroin use in high-risk

communities. This new funding is expected to serve an additional 24 high-risk communities.

Item – Page 62

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment - SAMHSA is directed to ensure that

funds provided for SBIRT are used for existing evidence-based models of providing early

intervention and treatment services to those at risk of developing substance abuse disorders. 

These grants will have MAT as an allowable use. In FY 2016, the Budget includes a 

$13.0 million increase for this activity, more than doubling funding to $25.0 million within the

Targeted Capacity Expansion-General program.

Action taken or to be taken

The SBIRT program requires grant recipients to implement the SBIRT model at all levels of

primary care and medical facilities, including hospitals, trauma centers, Federally Qualified

Health Centers, and other relevant settings. Research and clinical experience support the use of 

341 
SBIRT to intervene early with alcohol and other substance use disorders, which leads to early

referral and treatment. SBIRT also identifies individuals with more serious conditions and diverts 

them from costly emergency services to general practitioners. Funds may be used for screening

of substance use and co-occurring disorders, evidence-based client-centered brief interventions

such as motivational interviewing, and brief treatment and referral to specialty care for individuals 

exhibiting signs of dependency. Evaluation findings also indicate that the value of SBIRT is that

it makes an “invisible” clinical issue visible by providing the tools to identify and address alcohol

and drug use disorders at every point in public health, from primary care to specialty care.

Item – Page 62

Overdose Fatality Prevention - The agreement reflects strong concerns about the increasing

number of unintentional overdose deaths attributable to prescription and nonprescription opioids. 

SAMHSA is urged to take steps to encourage and support the use of Substance Abuse and

Prevention Block Grant funds for opioid safety education and training, including initiatives that

improve access for licensed healthcare professionals, to include paramedics, to emergency devices

used to rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdoses. Such initiatives should incorporate 

robust evidence-based intervention training, and facilitate linkage to treatment and recovery

services.

Action taken or to be taken

Addressing the issue of prescription drug abuse and misuse as well as preventing opioid overdose

deaths is a top priority for SAMHSA. In terms of grants to prevent prescription drug/opioid

overdose related deaths, SAMHSA proposes for FY 2016 a $12.0 million grant program that

has the potential to significantly reduce the number of opioid-related overdose deaths. Funding 

will help states purchase naloxone, equip first responders in high-risk communities, support 

education on the use of naloxone and other overdose death prevention strategies, provide the 

necessary materials to assemble overdose kits, as well as cover expenses incurred from

dissemination efforts. SAMHSA’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit should be used as the

guide for the development of a comprehensive strategy that will include evidence based programs 

to intervene and prevent the likelihood of drug overdose recurrence. The Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) will evaluate this grant program for its efficacy in reducing

overdose deaths from opioids. 

In addition, state agencies that administer the Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) may use 

SABG funds (other than primary prevention set-aside funds) to purchase naloxone and the

necessary materials to assemble overdose kits and to cover the costs associated with the 

dissemination of such kits. At the state’s discretion, a portion of a states’ allocation for the block 

grant may be used to purchase naloxone. 

342 
Item – Page 64

Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPFSIG) and Partnerships for

Success (PFS) - These two programs shall continue to focus exclusively on: addressing state

and community-level indicators of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; targeting and implementing

appropriate universal prevention strategies; building infrastructure and capacity; and preventing 

substance use and abuse. The agreement does not approve of SAMHSA's proposal to use 

$1,500,000 from the SPFSIG to expand the focus of community coalitions to include mental

health promotion and mental illness prevention. SAMHSA is directed not to use any SPFSIG

funds for this initiative.

Action taken or to be taken

SAMHSA will not use any SPF-SIG funds for the Building Behavioral Health Coalitions

initiative. The SPF-SIG PFS program will continue to address the nation’s top emerging

substance abuse priorities, such as prescription opioid drugs and other opioids, underage

drinking, marijuana, and intoxicative inhalants using appropriate prevention strategies as well as

providing support for grantees to strengthen substance abuse prevention infrastructure and

capacity using the strategic prevention framework. Applicants for the FY 2015 PFS cohort will

also be encouraged to address these issues or other emergent, data driven substance abuse

prevention targets. SAMHSA will not use any SPF-SIG funds for the Building Behavioral 

Health Coalitions initiative.

Item – Pages 64-65

STOP Act - All funds appropriated for STOP Act community based coalition enhancement

grants shall be used for making grants to eligible communities and not for any other purposes or

activities.

Action taken or to be taken

SAMHSA ensures that the Sober Truth on the Prevention of Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act)

grant program’s funds are used for making grants to eligible communities and not for any other 

purpose or activities.

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344 
SAMHSA

SAMHSA-Specific Requirements

Table of Contents

SAMHSA-Specific Requirements

1. HIV Continuum of Care .................................................................................................. 346

345 
HIV Continuum of Care

SAMHSA Strengthening HIV Continuum of Care through Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse 

& Primary Care Integration Grants - Should show how SAMHSA intends to build new evidence

and strengthen capacity for rigorous evaluation and data analytics.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Implementation Plan

SAMHSA currently funds projects under the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) that implement the

goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)

provides funding for substance abuse prevention services and HIV testing programs. The Center

for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)

funded projects that support substance abuse/mental health treatment services, HIV testing and

referral to quality HIV care.

In 2011, SAMHSA joined with the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of 

HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy and other HHS agencies to better coordinate a national 

response to the HIV epidemic under the “HHS 12 Cities Project”. Consistent with this

coordinated effort, SAMHSA funded 11 cooperative agreements from FY 2011-FY 2014 under 

the Minority AIDS Initiative-Targeted Capacity Expansion: Integrated Behavioral

Health/Primary Care Network Cooperative Agreements (MAI-TCE Program). The purpose of 

this program is to facilitate the development and expansion of culturally competent and effective

integrated behavioral health and primary care networks, which include HIV services and medical

treatment, within racial and ethnic minority communities in the 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas

(MSAs) and Metropolitan Divisions (MDs) most impacted by HIV/AIDS.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA’s CMHS, CSAP, and CSAT supported a pilot HIV Continuum of Care

grant program. The purpose of this jointly funded program is to integrate care (behavioral health

treatment, prevention, and HIV medical care services) for racial/ethnic minority populations at

high risk for behavioral health disorders and high risk for or living with HIV. This includes 

substance abuse primary prevention/treatment service programs, community mental health

programs, and HIV integrated programs that can either co-locate or have fully integrated HIV

prevention and medical care services within them. Also, this program provides substance abuse

and HIV primary prevention services in local communities served by the behavioral health

program. In addition, because of the significant co-morbidity of viral hepatitis with HIV infection

and because viral hepatitis occurs in up to 20 percent of those with either substance use disorders 

or serious mental illness, five percent of the allocated funds were used to provide services

to prevent, screen, test, and refer to treatment as clinically appropriate those at risk for or living

with viral hepatitis.

In FY 2014, SAMHSA awarded 34 HIV Continuum of Care grants and a technical assistance

contract. SAMHSA also awarded a contract to evaluate the MAI program. This contract evaluates

both the process and the impact of programs that integrate mental health promotion, substance

abuse prevention and treatment, HIV prevention, testing, and counseling activities, linkage to

services, and medical treatment, and care (as programmatically appropriate) for people most at

risk for HIV infection and living with HIV/AIDS.

346 
In FY 2015, SAMHSA will fund the continuation of 34 HIV Continuum of Care grants, a 

technical assistance contract, and award a new HIV Consolidated Evaluation. 

The primary purpose of the HIV Consolidated Evaluation is to conduct a comprehensive process

and outcome evaluation of all SAMHSA HIV programs that entails in-depth evaluation

development and implementation of a cooperative agreement for a period of four years. The

evaluation results will be used to inform program development and refine the approach used in

SAMHSA’s HIV portfolio. 

Expected outcomes for the HIV Continuum of Care programs include: 1) increased HIV testing

to identify behavioral health clients who are unaware of their HIV status; 2) increased diagnosis

of HIV among behavioral health clients; 3) increased number of clients who are linked to HIV

medical care; 4) increased number of behavioral health clients who are retained in care;

5) increased number of behavioral health clients who are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART);

6) improved adherence to behavioral treatment and ART; 7) increased number of behavioral

health clients who have sustained viral suppression; and 8) increased adherence and retention in

behavioral health (both substance use and mental disorders) treatment.

SAMHSA expects that data generated from the FY 2014 pilot HIV Continuum of Care grant

program will help to inform SAMHSA efforts to continue the co-location and integrated

HIV/primary care within either substance abuse or community mental health treatment programs

that focus on establishing integrated behavioral health and HIV care in addition to primary care

needed by those living with or at high risk for HIV infection in minority communities heavily

impacted by HIV. By integrating HIV care into behavioral health settings, people living with

HIV/AIDS and mental and substance use disorders (M/SUDs) will have greater access to

treatment for these conditions. Integrated care programs developed as a result of this grant

program will make it possible for behavioral health and HIV care needs to be addressed in one 

setting. This will result in effective, person-centered, treatment that will reduce the risk of HIV

transmission, improve outcomes for those living with HIV/AIDS, and ultimately reduce new

infections. SAMHSA’s Common Data platform (CDP), now under development, will integrate

substance abuse and mental health elements with HIV and viral hepatitis elements to ensure a 

more rigorous evaluation and data analysis to inform future public health intervention decisionmaking that addresses the intersection of behavioral health and HIV.

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348