Updated 9/8/2015

# FY 2016-2017 Block Grant Application  

# Frequently Asked Questions

# Updated 9/8/2015

Table of ContentsGeneral Questions	1Requirements & Requested Information	2Mental Health Block Grant	3Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment	5

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# General Questions

**1.  Will the FY2016-17 June 23 and 25th Webinar on Overview of the 2016-17 Block Grant 	Application and Reports be available for replay?**

	A:  Archives of the webinars can be viewed at http://ahpnet.com/Internal/Webinars.aspx

**2.  How will the review of the block grant applications be coordinated across SAMHSA Centers?  Will project officers from all three centers review all portions of the application and potentially request revisions on the same sections?**

	A:  Project officers will only review those sections of the application that are relevant for 		the Center in which they serve, e.g. mental health, substance abuse treatment and 	substance abuse prevention.  Every effort will be made to coordinate these reviews and 	there should not be multiple revision requests for the same section.

**3.  Please clarify the applicable years for the plan and each of the tables.  For example, for purposes of the plan, the FY 2016-2017 guidance indicates that states are REQUIRED to report on the two-year period between 7/1/15 and 6/30/17 (see p. 12), while Table 1 references “SFY”, which may or may not be 7/1-6/30, and other tables indicate that the state should report for the FY SABG award year.  Additionally, are there any instances in which states can select their own expenditure periods or are the time periods pre-populated by SAMHSA?  If they are pre-populated and a state would like to use another expenditure period, can states use a different expenditure period as long as they explain this in a footnote to the table?**

	A: WebBGAS will automatically update the time period on the tables when the state or 	jurisdiction is completing the plan.  Table 1 is based on the state’s fiscal year.  Tables 2, 3 	and 6b should represent the planning period of 7/1/15 – 6/30/17.  Tables 4, 5a, 5b, 5c and 	6a represent the FY SABG award year.  The time periods are prepopulated by SAMHSA.  	If a state would like to use another expenditure period, please contact your Project 	Officer to discuss the request. 

**4.  Table 1:  How should we approach this table to address mental health and substance abuse if we are jointly funding a project that will address both populations?  Do we each draft a Table 1 or should we do this as a combined project?**

	A:  If you are submitting a combined application, then you can create a combined project 	and choose all of the populations that will be targeted.  Please make it clear in the 	description that it is a jointly funded project.  

**5.  On WebBGAS, there are instructions for each plan but not an integrated plan.  Do we submit two or can we integrate them?**

	A:  You can submit one integrated application.  The additional instructions are not 	integrated.  They are written after the application has been developed in an effort to 	clarify the needs of the SABG and MHBG for the states.  The additional instructions are 	meant to supplement the application but also provide additional guidance as it relates to 	the separate statutory requirements of each block grant. 

**6.  When is the FY 2016 SABG Report expected to be available on BGAS?  This is the FY 2016 SABG Report that must be submitted to SAMHSA by Dec. 1, 2015.**

A:  The report is still being developed in WebBGAS and is expected to be available in early fall in order to submit the report due December 1, 2015. 

**7.	Is the SABG FY 16-17 Reporting Section intended for the FY 2016 SABG Report due Dec. 1, 2015 and the FY 2017 SABG Report due Dec. 1, 2016?**

	A:  The FFY 2016 Report will actually use the old Report format (since it is reporting on 	the second year of the 2014-2015 SABG Plan). The new OMB approved Report format 	will be used for the FFYs 2017 and 2018 SABG Reports, so the years are correct.

**8.  Where can I find more information about Evidenced Based Practices?**

****A:  Evidenced Based Practices can be found in the following federal registries: 

	SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices **(NREPP)**http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov Provides descriptions of and rates evidence for various interventions related to substance use and abuse and mental health problems. 

	Exemplary and Promising Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools Programs Sponsored by the **U.S. Department of Education**http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/exemplary01/exemplary01.pdf Provides descriptions of and rates evidence for educational programs related to substance use. 

	Guide to Community Preventive Services Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] http://www.thecommunityguide.org Provides recommendations regarding generic programs and policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use and alcohol-impaired driving. 

# Requirements & Requested Information

**9.	What sections of the application are states required to respond to and which sections are requested?**

	A:*****“Shall/must” = **required********“strongly recommend”, “suggests”, and “will be asked” = 	**requested***

**10.  Does the state’s mental health authority still need to address the five criteria established in****section 1911 of Title XIX, Part B, Subpart I and III of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act****; including (1) Comprehensive community-based mental health systems, (2) Mental health system data and epidemiology, (3) Children’s services, (4) Targeted services to rural and homeless populations and (5) Management systems (****http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/block-grants/mhbg****)?**

	A:  Yes, the five criteria are required per statute and must be addressed within the plan 	and appropriate sections of the Mental Health Block Grant or Combined Block Grant 	application.  

**11.  What is the authority that SAMHSA has to require states to consult with Federally Recognized tribes?**

A:   SAMHSA does not require, but encourages that states engage in a consultation process with Tribes.

**12.  Page 26 of the application refers to a parity communications plan. Has this been   completed and if so, how can states access it?**

	A: The information and resources available on Parity can be found at: 	http://www.samhsa.gov/health-financing/implementation-mental-health-parity-addiction-	equity-act

# Mental Health Block Grant

**13.  Related to the 5% set aside in the MHBG:  If all of a particular state’s contracts are awarded through a competitive procurement process, would states be permitted to amend existing contracts or would a separate procurement be required?**

	A:  Yes, if the existing procurement process meets the criteria for competitive sub-awards 	and included specific attention to evidenced based practices (EBPs), and the state can 	assure that the outcome of the sub-awards will meet the set aside amounts for EBPs .

**14.  In regard to the five percent of MHBG funds required to be spent to support Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs), Prevention and Early Intervention, is it required that the funding be used for providers who are already implementing EBPs, or can it be used to offer training to providers who are not yet utilizing EBPs?  In the latter case, can the five percent be used to purchase the necessary training resources and logistical support?**

	A: No, funds do not have to be used for providers already implementing EBPs.  Yes, 	specific training is considered one of the allowable expenditures under this set-aside 	portion of MHBG funds.  Regarding logistical support, that will depend on what the state 	is proposing to pay for.  If a state has any questions about the spending of their five 	percent set-aside, they should contact their MHBG PO. 

**15.**Does the joint MH/SA Block Grant Plan have to be approved by the Behavioral Health Advisory Council (BHAC)?**

	A:  The MHBG related portion of the plan must be reviewed and commented on by the 	Mental Health Planning Council or the BHAC, as applicable.  However, the authority of 	the BHAC is determined by the state; therefore, it is up to the state if the BHAC reviews 	the SAPT portion of the plan.   

**16.  Are states required to implement Olmstead and Title II (p. 67-68)**

	A: States should ensure block grant funds are allocated to support prevention, treatment, 	and recovery services in community settings whenever feasible and remain committed, as 	SAMHSA is, to ensuring services are implemented in accordance with Olmstead and 	Title II of the ADA.

**17.  Can MHBG Funds be used to support Mental Health First Aid for Teachers, School Counselors, First Line Employees, etc. and Suicide Prevention for the same groups?**

	A: MHBG funds, by statute, are targeted for supports and services for individuals with 	SMI/SED. Based on the limited information available within the question; generally, 	funding teachers, School Counselors and first line employees are not permissible under 	the MHBG.  Please check with the state Project Officer on what could be permissible.

**18.  Can SAMHSA provide examples of best practices related to the five percent set-aside for providers serving co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder child/youth and adult populations?**

	A*:*Several of the Coordinated Specialty Care programs for First Episode Psychosis will 	provide, or coordinate access to, substance use treatment for individuals who need it. 	Additionally, you can find more information in the article,**“An Inventory & 	Environmental Scan of Evidence-Based Practices for Treating Persons in Early Stages of 	Serious Mental Disorders, February 2015” at http://www.nasmhpd.org/content/inventory-	environmental-scan-evidence-based-practices-treating-persons-early-stages-serious

	Please consult with your MHBG project officer for additional guidance.

**19.**Where can I find more guidance regarding the 5 percent early intervention set-aside for MHBG?**

	A:  You can find guidance on NIMH’s website regarding Early Intervention at 	http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/raise/coordinated-specialty-care-	for-first-episode-psychosis-resources.html

# Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment

**20.  Please clarify which funds may be used to support Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral and Treatment (SBIRT) programs.**

A:  In 2013, SAMHSA brought SBIRT to scale under the SABG. States now have the opportunity to use SABG block grant funds for SBIRT services.  However, states should be aware that primary prevention set-aside funds **cannot** be used to fund SBIRT and should 	be encouraging the State Medicaid Agencies and Health Insurance Marketplace to include SBIRT as a covered prevention or service-delivery benefit. 

	MHBG funds can be used to support SBIRT as long as the services are targeted to adults 	with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disorders and their 	families. 

**21.  Page 20-21 of the application appears to indicate that enforcement of underage drinking may be funded with SABG dollars.  Is this correct?**

	A:  Grantees may not use primary prevention set-aside funds to fund the enforcement of 	alcohol, tobacco, or drug laws.  Grantees may use primary prevention set-aside funds to 	provide technical assistance to communities to maximize local enforcement procedures 	governing the availability and distribution of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.  This 	would include, for example, educating community members, including law enforcement 	officials, about the benefits of enforcing alcohol, tobacco, and drug laws.  Additionally, 	states may utilize state funds and other applicable prevention discretionary funds to pay 	for the costs associated with enforcing these laws.  Based on the statutory limitations 	placed on primary prevention funds and the Department of Health and Human Services 	(DHHS) pronouncement of what activities would fall within the scope of primary 	prevention programs, enforcement of alcohol, tobacco and drug laws are not permissible 	SABG primary prevention activities. 

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