[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30944-30947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14165]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part M of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA) Statement of Organization, Functions, and 
Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) is amended to reflect new functional statements for the 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use 
and the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. In 
addition this notice establishes the new National Mental Health and 
Substance Use Policy Laboratory (NMHSUPL). This reorganization is to 
ensure compliance with the requirements set forth in the 21st Century 
Cures Act, and to better align the agency in maximizing the talent and 
resources available to improve the efficiency of SAMHSA programs.
    Section M.20, Functions is amended as follows:
    Establishing the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental 
Health and Substance Use (OAS) and abolishing the Immediate Office of 
the Administrator. Realigning the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS 
Relief Activities Branch from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 
to the OAS. Realigning the Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy, the 
Office of Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse, the Office of the Chief 
Medical Officer, and the Executive Correspondence Branch, from the 
Office of Policy, Planning, and Innovation (OPPI) to the OAS. Renaming 
the Office of Behavioral Health Equity to the Office of Behavioral 
Health Equity and Justice-Involved and renaming the Division of 
Regional and National Policy Liaison to the Office of Intergovernmental 
and External Affairs and realigning both from OPPI to the OAS. 
Establishing the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy 
Laboratory and transferring to it the functions of OPPI. Abolishing the 
Division of Policy Coordination and the Division of Policy Innovation 
and Policy Analysis Branch from OPPI. Codifying the existing Center for 
Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) and renaming CBHSQ's 
Division of Evaluation, Analysis, and Quality to the Office of 
Evaluation. The Office of Communication remains an integral part of the 
OAS and was not impacted by this reorganization. The functional 
statement for each office is changed to read as follows:

Office of the Assistant Secretary (MA)

    The Office of the Assistant Secretary (OAS): (1) Maintains a system 
to disseminate research findings and evidence-based practices to 
service providers to improve treatment and prevention services and 
incorporate these findings into SAMHSA programs; (2) ensures that 
grants are subject to performance and outcome evaluations and that 
center directors consistently document the grant process and conduct 
ongoing oversight of grantees; (3) consults with stakeholders to 
improve community-based and other mental health services, including 
adults with a serious mental illness (SMI), and children with a serious 
emotional disturbance (SED); (4) collaborates with other federal 
departments, including the Departments of Defense (DOD), Veterans 
Affairs (VA), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Labor (DOL) to 
improve care for veterans and service members, and support programs to 
address chronic homelessness; and (5) works with stakeholders to 
improve the recruitment and retention of mental health and substance 
use disorder professionals. In addition, the OAS provides leadership in 
the development of agency policies and programs, and maintains a close 
working relationship and coordination with Congress, other operating 
and staff divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services, 
and external Federal and private sector entities.
    The OAS consists of the Office of Communications, Office of 
Intergovernmental and External Affairs, the Office of Behavioral Health 
Equity and Justice-Involved, the Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy/
Office of Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and the Office of the 
Chief Medical Officer.

Office of Communications (MAB)

    Provides leadership in the development of SAMHSA's priorities, 
strategies, and practices for effective communications to targeted 
public audiences, including relations with the media; and serves as a 
focal point for communications activities as follows: (1) Coordinates 
agency communications activities; (2) plans public events, including 
press conferences, speeches, and site visits for the Administrator, 
other SAMHSA officials, and DHHS representatives; (3) publishes SAMHSA 
brochures, fact sheets, and quarterly issues of SAMHSA News; (4) 
coordinates electronic dissemination of information, within the Agency 
and through the internet and World-Wide Web; (5) develops 
communications channels and targets media placements; (6) develops and 
disseminates news releases and coordinates media contacts with Agency 
representatives; (7) provides editorial and policy review of all Agency 
publications; (8) fulfills public affairs requirements of DHHS; (9) 
provides Agency contributions to the DHHS forecast report on 
significant activities; and (10) manages the Agency conference exhibit 
program.

Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (MAC)

    The Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (OIEA) serves 
as the central point for providing leadership and coordination in 
establishing and maintaining a collaborative effort between SAMHSA, 
other government agencies, and service providers in order to improve 
behavioral health outcomes. The Office is SAMHSA's lead for 
institutional and intergovernmental communication and coordination. As 
such, the Office: (1) Ensures that critical information from the field 
is incorporated into all policy activities and shared broadly across 
SAMHSA to support program development and implementation; (2) 
establishes and sustains relationships between SAMHSA and key 
stakeholders in other government agencies and institutions; (3) ensures 
that SAMHSA's policies are effectively communicated to Regional and 
National stakeholders; and, (4) meets routinely with staff from Centers 
and Offices to discuss program policy issues, seek input, and review 
progress.

Office of Behavioral Health Equity and Justice-Involved (MACA)

    The Office of Behavioral Health Equity and the Justice-Involved 
(OBHEJI) coordinates agency efforts to ensure that racial and ethnic 
minority, underserved, and criminal justice-involved populations have 
equitable access to high quality behavioral health care. Functions of 
the office include: (1) Strengthening SAMHSA's capacity, through its 
grant programs and technical assistance efforts, to address the 
behavioral health needs of minority, underserved and justice involved 
populations; (2) enhancing measurement and data strategies to identify, 
assess and respond to the behavioral health challenges for these 
populations; (3) promoting policy initiatives that strengthen SAMHSA's 
programs and the broader field in improving the behavioral health of 
the underserved and the justice-involved; and, (4) expanding the 
behavioral health

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workforce capacity to improve outreach, engagement and quality of care.

Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy/Office of Indian Alcohol and 
Substance Abuse (MACB)

    The Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy (OTAP)/Office of Indian 
Alcohol and Substance Abuse (OIASA) coordinates federal partners and 
provides tribes with technical assistance and resources to develop and 
enhance prevention and treatment programs for substance use disorders, 
including the misuse of alcohol. The Office serves as the agency's 
primary point of contact for tribal governments, tribal organizations, 
and federal agencies on behavioral health issues that impact tribal 
communities.
    OTAP/OIASA is charged with aligning, leveraging, and coordinating 
federal agencies and departments in carrying out SAMHSA's 
responsibilities delineated in the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA). 
This effort is overseen through the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse 
(IASA) Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee, which is comprised of 
more than 60 members representing a range of federal agencies and 
departments.

PEPFAR Activities Branch (MACC)

    The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Activities 
Branch: (1) Provides leadership and direction to activities, under the 
PEPFAR mission, that impact the global HIV epidemic through the 
delivery of substance abuse treatment as part of HIV/AIDS prevention, 
care, and treatment; (2) serves as the point of contact (POC) for all 
SAMHSA PEPFAR operational activities and provides leadership and 
direction to technical, budget and programmatic aspects of the SAMHSA 
PEPFAR program; (3) works in collaboration with other agency's staff to 
guide policy development and innovation related to HIV and hepatitis 
within the context of a broader international agenda, including work 
with other SAMHSA Centers to identify additional behavioral health 
evidence based practices and initiatives that are relevant to SAMHSA's 
role in PEPFAR; (4) serves as the POC for both the Office of Global 
Affairs in HHS and the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health 
Diplomacy (S/GAC) in the State Department on all SAMHSA PEPFAR related 
activities and coordinates all matters of PEPFAR policy; and (5) 
oversees and coordinates responsibilities for PEPFAR within SAMHSA, 
including (a) SAMHSA PEPFAR operational activities to include budget, 
programmatic activities, as well as, new initiatives and activities 
developed at the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health 
Diplomacy (S/GAC); (b) SAMHSA PEPFAR data activities and reporting to 
the Interagency Collaborative for Program Improvement (ICPI); (c) 
SAMHSA related PEPFAR Technical Working Group (TWG) activities and 
assignments; (d) SAMHSA headquarters technical assistance (TDYs) on 
substance abuse treatment and HIV prevention, care and treatment; and 
(e) SAMHSA participation in PEPFAR country reviews and new and evolving 
PEPFAR activities, including policy development.

Executive Correspondence and Support Branch (MACD)

    The Executive Correspondence and Support Branch: (1) Receives, 
analyzes, assigns, distributes and tracks executive correspondence and 
maintains files; (2) ensuring responsiveness, quality and timeliness of 
executive correspondence; (3) issues guidance and establishes 
administrative processes to ensure that executive correspondence 
complies with all DHHS requirements and reflects positively on the 
reputation of SAMHSA; and, (4) responds to Freedom of Information Act 
requests.

Office of the Chief Medical Officer (MAD)

    The Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) provides assistance 
to the Assistant Secretary in evaluating and organizing programs within 
the Agency, and to promote evidence-based and promising best practices 
emphasizing clinical focus. The OCMO has in-depth experience providing 
mental health care or substance use disorder treatment services. 
Furthermore, the OCMO coordinates with the Assistant Secretary for 
Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) to assess the use of performance metrics 
to evaluate SAMHSA programs, and to coordinate with the Assistant 
Secretary to ensure consistent utilization of appropriate performance 
metrics and evaluation designs.

National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory (MD)

    The National Mental Health Substance Use and Policy Laboratory 
(NMHSUPL) promotes evidence-based practices and service delivery models 
through evaluating models that would benefit from further development 
and through expanding, replicating, or scaling evidence-based programs 
across a wider area. The NMHSUPL: (1) Identifies, coordinates, and 
facilitates the implementation of policy changes likely to have a 
significant effect on mental health, mental illness (especially severe 
mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders), 
recovery supports, and the prevention and treatment of substance use 
disorder services; (2) works with the Center for Behavioral Health 
Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) to collect information from grantees 
under programs operated by the Administration in order to evaluate and 
disseminate information on evidence-based practices, including 
culturally and linguistically appropriate services, as appropriate, and 
service delivery models; and (3) carry out other activities as deemed 
necessary to continue to encourage innovation and disseminate evidence-
based programs and practices.

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (MC)

    The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality: (1) 
Coordinates the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance 
Use's integrated data strategy, which includes collecting data each 
year on the national incidence and prevalence of the various forms of 
mental illness and substance abuse; (2) provides statistical and 
analytical support for activities of the Assistant Secretary for Mental 
Health and Substance Use, and the Secretary of DHHS; (3) recommends a 
core set of performance metrics to evaluate activities supported by the 
Administration; (4) coordinates with the Assistant Secretary for Mental 
Health and Substance Use, the Assistant Secretary for Planning and 
Evaluation, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA) Chief Medical Officer, as appropriate, to 
improve the quality of services provided by programs and the evaluation 
of activities carried out by the Administration; (5) works with the 
National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory to collect, 
as appropriate, information from grantees under programs in order to 
evaluate and disseminate information on evidence-based practices, 
including culturally and linguistically appropriate services, as 
appropriate, and service delivery models; (6) improves access to 
reliable and valid information on evidence-based programs and 
practices, including information on the strength of evidence associated 
with such programs and practices, related to mental and substance use 
disorders; (7) compiles, analyzes, and disseminates behavioral health 
information for statistical purposes.

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Office of the Director (MC1)

    The Office of the Director: (1) Plans, directs, administers, 
coordinates, and evaluates the integrated data strategy of the Center; 
(2) ensures that data collection, analytic activities, dissemination 
activities, and evaluation efforts are consistent with the mission and 
priorities of the Department and the Agency; (3) directs the Center's 
health systems statistical programs and evaluations; (4) provides 
management and administration for the Center; (5) serves as Agency 
primary liaison to the Office of the Secretary, the Office of National 
Drug Control Policy, and other Federal agencies; to State and local 
government agencies; and to non-governmental organizations and 
institutions on matters related to the collection and analysis of data 
on substance use and mental health issues; and (6) oversees the process 
for internal clearance, publishing, and dissemination of statistical 
studies, reports, and evaluations produced by CBHSQ.

Office of Program Analysis and Coordination (MCA)

    The Office of Program Analysis and Coordination supports the 
Center's implementation of programs and policies by providing guidance 
in the administration, analysis, planning, and coordination of the 
Center's programs, consistent with agency priorities. Specifically the 
Office: (1) Manages the Center's participation in the agency's policy, 
planning, budget formulation and execution, program development and 
clearance, and internal and external requests, including strategic 
planning, identification of program priorities, and other agency-wide 
and departmental planning activities; (2) Provides support for the 
Center Director, including coordination of staff development 
activities, analysis of the impact of proposed legislation and rule-
making, and supporting administrative functions, including human 
resource-related actions; and (3) coordinates release of survey data 
information through electronic reports and web based media in 
conjunction with Office of Communication.

Division of Surveillance and Data Collection (MCB)

    The Division is responsible for developing, conducting, and 
improving surveys carried out by CBHSQ according to statute. 
Specifically the Division: (1) Plans, develops, and manages the 
national surveys of the general population, treatment providers, and 
patients focused on behavioral health disorders, adverse consequences, 
and treatment utilization and availability; (2) consistent with the 
CBHSQ publications plan, makes CBHSQ data available to the general 
public, policymakers at the Federal, state, and local government 
levels, and researchers through annual reports for agency, peer- 
reviewed sources, publications, and customized data files (public and 
restricted-use) in accordance with confidentiality statutes and 
regulations and OMB guidance and with Federal partners, as appropriate; 
(3) carries out methodological studies to assess and improve data 
collection methods and data quality and determines the comparability of 
data from SAMHSA surveys with those of other surveys conducted on 
behavioral health disorders; (4) responds to data inquiries and 
provides technical assistance to SAMHSA, other Federal agencies, state, 
and local governments, private organizations, researchers, and the 
public on the findings and appropriate interpretation of the data from 
CBHSQ surveys, as well as surveys sponsored by other organizations; (6) 
serves as a source of expertise for SAMHSA and the Department on survey 
methods, sampling design, statistics, analytical techniques, and 
participates in interagency workgroups to promote information-sharing 
and collaboration on statistical issues across agencies; and (7) 
manages statistical and analytical support team that analyzes and 
disseminates CBHSQ data.

Population Surveys Branch (MCBA)

    The Population Surveys Branch plans, develops, and manages the 
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Specifically the 
Branch: (1) According to statute, provides annual national estimates, 
as well as periodic state, sub-state, and metropolitan area estimates 
on the incidence, prevalence, correlates, and consequences of illicit 
drug use, alcohol and tobacco use, and mental health disorders and 
related treatment in the general population; (2) keeps abreast of 
current advances in survey design techniques and emerging data needs 
and research findings, and updates the survey design and analysis plans 
to meet those needs; and develops and implements new questionnaires and 
sampling, data collection, estimation, and analysis methods reflecting 
these needs for surveys; (3) manages the NSDUH data collection by 
reviewing the data collection materials, observing data collection, 
observing field interviewer training, tracking response rates, and 
resolving data quality problems; (4) evaluates methods used in 
population surveys and their impact on data quality, including 
comparing CBHSQ data with other existing data to help guide 
interpretation and promote appropriate uses of data; (5) manages the 
survey contract to ensure the reliability and validity of the data and 
(6) maintains partnerships with other organizations collecting and 
analyzing data on behavioral health disorders in support of agency's 
mission.

Treatment Services Branch (MCBB)

    The Treatment Services Branch plans, develops, and manages national 
surveys of mental health and substance use treatment service facilities 
and client level data collections related to the nation's behavioral 
health treatment systems according to statute. These data collections 
include the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-
SSATS), the National Mental Health Services Survey (N-MHSS), the 
Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), the Mental Health Client-Level Data 
(MH-CLD) system, the SAMHSA Emergency Department Surveillance System 
(SEDSS) and other studies of the behavioral health treatment system. 
Specifically the Branch: (1) Provides annual national census data, as 
well as State, and metropolitan area data on the number, location, 
services provided, operational characteristics, and utilization of 
mental health and substance use treatment facilities; and provides 
client-level data on the characteristics of persons admitted to 
behavioral health treatment and their status post-admission and at 
discharge; (2) according to statute, manages and directs the collection 
of survey data used to develop and maintain a web-based treatment 
service Locator for behavioral health disorders, and conducts periodic 
testing and analyses to improve the accessibility and utility of the 
Locator and collaborates with the SAMHSA Office of Communication, as 
appropriate, in usability studies; (3) manages the associated survey 
contracts to ensure the reliability and validity of the data; (4) 
maintains the quality and relevance of the data through partnership 
with state behavioral health agencies, and (5) coordinates partnership 
efforts with the Center for Disease Control, National Center for Health 
Statistics (NCHS) related to the collection of behavioral health 
emergency department data for SEDSS through the National Ambulatory 
Medical Care Survey (NHCS).

Office of Evaluation (MCC)

    The Office of Evaluation is responsible for providing centralized 
planning and management of program evaluation across SAMHSA in

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partnership with program originating Centers, providing oversight and 
management of agency quality improvement and performance management 
activities and for advancing agency goals and objectives related to 
program evaluation, performance measurement, and quality improvement. 
Specifically, the Office: (1) Develops evaluation language for Request 
for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Applications (RFAs), and other 
funding announcements to ensure a clear statement of evaluation 
expectations in the announcements; (2) develops and implements standard 
measures for evaluating program performance and improvement of 
services; (3) manages the design of SAMHSA program evaluations in 
collaboration with the relevant Center(s); (4) monitors evaluation 
contracts to ensure implementation of planned evaluation and provides 
early feedback regarding program start-up for use in agency decision-
making; (5) works collaboratively with the National Mental Health and 
Substance Use Policy Laboratory to provide support for SAMHSA 
evaluations; (6) oversees the identification of a set of performance 
indicators to monitor each SAMHSA program in collaboration with program 
staff and the development of periodic evaluation reports for use in 
agency planning, program change, and reporting to departmental and 
external organizations; (7) provides collaboration, guidance, and 
systematic feedback on SAMHSA's programmatic investments to support the 
agency's policy and program decisions; (8) analyzes and disseminates 
evaluation related data and reports in support of Secretarial and 
Assistant Secretarial initiatives and develops evaluation and 
performance related reports in response to internal and external 
requests; (9) provides oversight of the agency's quality improvement 
efforts, including the collection, analysis, and reporting of 
performance measurement and quality monitoring and improvement data; 
(10) provides oversight and management of SAMHSA's Performance 
Accountability and Reporting System (SPARS) which serves as a mechanism 
for the collection of performance data from agency grantees; (11) 
responds to agency and departmental requests for performance 
measurement data and information; and conducts a range of analytic and 
support activities to promote the use of performance data and 
information in the monitoring and management of agency programs and 
initiatives; and (12) maintains the posting, on the internet, of 
information on evidence-based programs and practices that have been 
reviewed by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance 
Use.

Delegation of Authority

    All delegations and re-delegations of authority made to SAMHSA 
officials that were in effect immediately prior to this reorganization, 
and that are consistent with this reorganization, shall continue in 
effect pending further re-delegation.

    Dated: June 25, 2018.
Alex M. Azar II,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-14165 Filed 6-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4160-01-P