The Department of Health and Human Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced $131.7 million in grant programs for behavioral health services.

The $131.7 million awarded this month includes:

• $5.7 million for planning and infrastructure development to improve the mental health of children, youth and families in American Indian/Alaska Native communities;
• $5.5 million for cooperative agreements for school-based trauma-informed support services and mental health care for children and youth;
• $2.4 million for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health (Project Launch);
• $16.4 million for healthy transitions: Improving life pathways for youth and young adults with serious mental illness programs;
• $41.2 million to expand substance abuse treatment capacity in adult and family drug courts;
• $48.3 million for grants for the expansion and maintenance of Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (System of Care SOC Expansion and Sustainability);
• $1.8 million for youth overdose prevention: Treatment, recovery, education, awareness and training;
• $8.7 million for the Behavioral Health Partnership for Early Diversion of Adults and Youth;
• $1.7 million for family counseling and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex+ youth and their families.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Addressing the ongoing mental health crisis, especially among the nation’s youth, is a top priority of the Biden administration and a key pillar of the president’s Unity Agenda for the nation, HHS said.

THE BIGGER TREND

Opioid use disorder treatment in particular is getting more attention as the opioid epidemic affects individuals and the health care industry. In September 2022, the US Department of Health and Human Services provided more than $1.6 billion in investments for communities across the country to address the addiction and overdose crisis.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdose in 2021, an increase of more than 15% from 2020.
The rapid expansion of telehealth services for mental health conditions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has helped improve access to care and improve provider ability to meet patient needs, according to in a study published in JAMA Health Forum.

ON THE RECORD

“These grants improve the overall health and well-being of children, youth and families. They address the entire behavioral continuum by meeting people where they are to ensure they get the support and care they need,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph .D., the assistant secretary of HHS for Mental Health and Substance Use, and the leader of SAMHSA. “SAMHSA is committed to using its resources to support children, youth and their families to get the help they need to thrive.”