Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration State TA

S A M H S A S T A T E P R O G R A M 

IMPROVEMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Project Overview and Services

The purpose of the State TA Project is to support 

SAMHSA’s mission by providing TA to recipients of 

the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant 

(MHBG) and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, 

and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRS BG). 

TA activities and services emphasize the effective use of block 

grant and set-aside funds through implementation of innovative and 

evidence-based practices (EBPs) and models. The project serves 

the 50 states, the District of Columbia, 5 U.S. territories, 3 freely 

associated states, and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians.

(hereafter referred to as “states”). 

SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery 

efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, 

and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while 

ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. The successful 

implementation of the MHBG and SUPTRS BG programs is 

instrumental to advancing this mission. 

Supporting your work to ensure successful program implementation 

is a SAMHSA priority. To aid in this effort, the State TA Project will 

provide many types of TA to match your specific needs, including 

a mix of in-person, offsite, or virtual, and peer-to-peer options for 

individuals and groups within states. This TA can help increase 

capacity in your state to navigate issues and improve practices in 

many areas. The State TA Project will also provide a wide range of 

guidance documents, issue briefs, and other resources. There is no 

cost to you to access these services and supports.

Examples of TA topics 

may include: 

• Mental health services for: 

 Adults with serious mental illness 

(SMI)

 Children with serious emotional 

disturbance (SED)

 Substance use disorder (SUD) 

treatment and recovery supports 

service delivery models

• Services for under-served/underresourced communities including 

veterans, ethnic and minority 

communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, 

people living in rural areas, and 

older adults

• Dissemination and support for the 

adoption of promising, best, and 

evidence-based practices

• Needs assessment, planning, 

operations, and sustainability of service 

delivery systems

• Compliance with federal regulations, 

including the MHBG and the 

SUPTRS BG

• Performance management, outcomes 

measurement, and evaluation

• Workforce development

• Financial management and analysis 

and resource development

• Information and data management HOW TO 

ACCESS TA:

Send your request to 

SAMHSAStateTA@jbsinternational.com
Primary Types of 

TA Available

Individualized TA

States can request TA on any topic that relates to 

the oversight of the MHBG and the SUPTRS BG. 

Individualized TA can include both in-person visits to 

your state as well as offsite/virtual communication. 

Webinars

The State TA Project will develop and publicize a 

limited number of webinars on a range of topics 

across the period of the project. Initial webinars 

include an introduction to the State TA Project, 

Emergency Department boarding, and planning for 

the 2024 MHBG and SUPTRS BG applications. 

Guidance Manuals and Resource Documents

To support implementation of various aspects of the 

MHBG and SUPTRS BG, the State TA Project will 

offer comprehensive guidance manuals and resource 

documents. These documents will include guidance 

related to: 

• MHBG and SUPTRS BG

• Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)

• Recovery

• Crisis continuum

• Workforce development

• Planning councils

• Olmstead compliance

• Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act

• Behavioral health services for people 

experiencing homelessness

The project will offer numerous shorter issue briefs 

across a range of topics relevant to State Mental 

Health Authorities and Single State Agencies.

Peer Learning 

States can learn from one another through various 

peer learning opportunities. Learning Collaboratives 

(LCs) allow for a small group of states to engage 

in peer-to-peer learning. LCs are supported by 

consultative TA around a specific topic. For each 

LC, participants work together across six sessions 

to address challenges and identify best practices. At 

completion, a webinar for all states will share lessons 

learned. In addition, a resource guide will support 

further implementation of best practices. Initial LCs 

focus on data quality, workforce, the crisis continuum, 

and planning councils. 

Distance Education Courses

Self-paced distance education courses are a 

convenient way to learn in more depth on specific 

topics. Each course will have up to five modules and 

provide an opportunity for states to learn on their 

own. Initial topics for these courses include supported 

employment, Block Grant 101 for mental health 

planners, MOUD, and recovery.
Train the Trainer Courses

These courses are an opportunity for states to receive 

training for up to 25 designated staff. A qualified 

subject matter expert will train state staff to function 

as qualified trainers for evidence-based or promising 

practices. The first topic will be supported education. 

State TA Plans

States can access TA to look at their systems and 

think through how to reach their ideal system. A 

comprehensive planning tool can help guide TA 

needs by providing a broad spectrum of state system 

operations for self-assessment and goal setting. The 

State TA project can also provide ongoing guidance 

and recommendations for implementing the TA plan. 

Selected Topics for TA Resources and Activities

Planning Councils

The project emphasizes the council elements 

needed for states to meet the MHBG and 

SUPTRS BG requirements (i.e., prioritizing mental 

health treatment, prevention issues). This project 

will support planning council operations through 

various types of support, including individualized 

TA, the opportunity to participate in an LC, and an 

updated Planning Council 101 Manual.

Crisis Continuum

States can receive guidance to implement and 

improve crisis services through multiple processes. 

An LC is a way for a selected number of states to 

focus on specific objectives related to the crisis 

continuum over a regular series of meetings. All 

states can participate in other types of peer-to-peer 

learning opportunities to share innovative practices. 

These learning opportunities also address barriers 

related to financing, workforce, children and youth, 

and rural and remote communities. All states can 

also access a resource document that examines 

implementation across states. 

SUD

The State TA Project offers:

• Specific topic and skill development webinars 

for states and their intermediaries

• Onsite TA with state Project Officers (POs) for 

state-specific requests

• Offsite TA for virtual learning

• In-depth TA to states with recommendations 

from the quality assurance review; this TA 

takes place in partnership with those states, 

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and 

state POs

Olmstead Initiative Support

The State TA Project has compiled Olmstead 

inquiries and lawsuits from the past 5 years. 

We have also updated the 2014 version of the 

Community Integration Self-Assessment tool 

to incorporate changes in focus and priorities. 

Combined, these activities can help states transition 

people with mental illness and co-occurring SUDs 

into integrated, community-living environments.
Snapshot of First-year Deliverables Available Through 

the State TA Project

Webinars

Guidance 

Manuals and 

Resource 

Documents

Brief Resource 

Documents

Peer 

Learning

Distance 

Education 

Courses

Train the 

Trainer

Individualized 

TA (Onsite and 

Offsite)

Workforce Shortages     

Crisis Continuum    

Data Quality     

Planning Councils    

Olmstead Compliance    

Emergency Medical 

Treatment and Labor Act  

Behavioral Health 

Services for People 

Experiencing 

Homelessness

 

Early SMI, Including Firstepisode Psychosis  

Civil Commitment  

Expanding Peer Support 

Services  

Aging Adults  

Financing Mental Health 

Services  

Co-occurring Mental 

Illness and SUD  

Person-centered Planning  

Supported Employment  

MHBG 101   

MOUD    

Recovery    

COVID-19 and SUD  

Equity in SUD Treatment  

Supported Education  

For more information, contact: SAMHSAStateTA@jbsinternational.com

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration

State TA S A M H S A S T A T E P R O G R A M I M P R O V E M E N T 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance 

misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes.

1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) • 1-800-487-4889 (TDD) • www.samhsa.gov

Task Order No. HHSS283201700019I_75S20322F42003 • Reference# 283-17-1903