Featured Items

Over $120 Million In Funding Opportunity for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Providing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care Across the Country

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through SAMHSA, has announced two funding opportunities for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) expansion, totaling $123.6 million. The CCBHC Planning, Development, and Implementation (CCBHC-PDI) grant aims to assist clinics to establish and implement new CCBHC programs, and the CCBHC Improvement and Advancement (CCBHC–IA) grant seeks to enhance and support existing CCBHCs that currently meet the CCBHC Certification Criteria.

Pre-Application Webinar: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic–Planning, Development, and Implementation Grants (SM-23-024)

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 3:00 PM ET

SAMHSA invites eligible behavioral health clinics and their representatives to participate in a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) pre-application webinar on April 12, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM ET. This webinar will provide an overview of the CCBHC Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant (CCBHC-PDI) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) SM-23-024. The CCBHC-PDI grant aims to assist clinics to establish new CCBHC programs.

Pre-Application Webinar: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic–Improvement and Advancement Grants (SM-23-016)

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 3:00 PM ET

SAMHSA invites eligible Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) and their representatives to participate in a CCBHC pre-application webinar on April 19, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM ET. This webinar will provide an overview of the CCBHC–Improvement and Advancement Grant (CCBHC-IA) Notice of Funding Opportunity SM-23-016. The CCBHC-IA grant seeks to enhance and support existing CCBHCs that currently meet the original or the updated CCBHC Certification Criteria.

Opportunities for Implementation Research Studies in SAMHSA-funded Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

SAMHSA, in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is launching an evidence-based practice implementation science initiative to reduce gaps in knowledge concerning successful adoption, implementation, and sustainment of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) in community behavioral health clinics. This initiative will create partnerships between researchers and providers to help improve the behavioral health care system and optimize the adoption of EBPs through research-oriented implementation strategies. To facilitate creation of such partnerships, the National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics – Expansion Grants has compiled information about proposed implementation science pilots in a CCBHC EBP Implementation Science Pilot Participant Database, which is available to investigators for use. Investigators interested in pursuing this research opportunity with CCBHCs are invited to register for a short webinar on April 19th, from 1-2 PM to learn more about this initiative and explore the database in depth.

Pre-Application Webinar and Conference Call For Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Cooperative Agreements to Implement Zero Suicide in Health Systems (SM-23-011)

Friday, April 7, 2023 2:00 PM ET

SAMHSA is announcing a webinar and conference call for prospective applicants interested in applying for fiscal year 2023 Cooperative Agreements to Implement Zero Suicide in Health Systems, Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement No. SM-23-011  The purpose of this program is to implement the Zero Suicide intervention and prevention model for adults throughout a health system or systems. The Zero Suicide model is a comprehensive, multi-setting approach to suicide prevention in health systems.

Register for the 6th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium!

Mental health is critical to well-being at every age. Join a free virtual event on May 11, 2023 that will empower behavioral health professionals and aging services providers with the latest tools to improve the lives of older adults in their communities. This all-day symposium is sponsored by the National Council on Aging, the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging.

HHS Provides SAMHSA Emergency Response Grants to Support Community Wellness, Resilience Following Recent East Palestine Train Derailment, Chemical Spill

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through SAMHSA, is providing funding from the SAMHSA Emergency Response Grants (SERG) to the state of Ohio to support community wellness and resilience, following the Norfolk Southern freight train derailment and related chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, in February. Ohio will receive an initial 90-day SERG grant of $209,402, with additional funding expected after the 90 days to continue for an additional 12 months to support activities. The grant funding is expected to support the immediate and ongoing behavioral health needs of the community related to the initial incident and subsequent traumatic experiences, to minimize the long-term impacts and foster resilience in the community, and to expand and enhance the capacity of local crisis response systems to ensure adequate and effective intervention in situations of crisis.

SAMHSA is Alerting Providers and Grantees About the Risks of Xylazine

SAMHSA is alerting providers and grantees about the risks of xylazine in this Dear Colleague letter. Xylazine is increasingly being found in the illicit drug supply, often in combination with opioids like fentanyl. Xylazine can cause circulatory changes that lead to painful lesions, necrosis, and even limb loss. Xylazine is especially risky because it is not detected in routine toxicology tests, so people who use drugs may be exposed without knowing. See also upcoming SAMHSA-sponsored webinars on Xylazine on April 11 and April 12.

Funding

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Improvement and Advancement Grant

Application Due Date: Monday, May 22, 2023

The purpose of this program is to transform community behavioral health systems and provide comprehensive, coordinated behavioral health care by (a) enhancing and improving CCBHCs that meet the CCBHC Certification Criteria; (b) providing a comprehensive range of outreach, screening, assessment, treatment, care coordination, and recovery supports based on a needs assessment with fidelity to the CCBHC Certification Criteria; and (c) supporting recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorders by providing access to high-quality mental health and substance use services, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
Anticipated Total Available Funding: $61,800,000
Anticipated # of Awards: 62

Cooperative Agreement for the Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence

Application Due Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

The purpose of this program is to establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) to advance the behavioral health equity of Hispanic/Latino communities. It is expected that the recipient will (1) develop and disseminate culturally informed, evidence-based behavioral health information); (2) provide training and technical assistance (TTA) on evidence-based and best practices in mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment and recovery from mental health and substance use disorders (SUD); and (3) expand the behavioral health workforce for Hispanic and Latino communities.
Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up $1,125,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: One (1)

American Indian and Alaska Native Behavioral Health Center of Excellence

Application Due Date: May 26, 2023

The purpose of the AIAN CoE program is to establish a CoE to advance the behavioral health equity of American Indians and Alaska Natives. It is expected that the recipient will (1) develop and disseminate culturally informed, evidence-based behavioral health information and (2) provide technical assistance and training on issues related to addressing behavioral health disparities in AIAN communities.
Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up to $1,500,000
Anticipated # of Awards: One (1)

Recovery Community Services Program

Application Due Date: May 30, 2023

The purpose of this program is to provide peer recovery support services to individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD), including those in recovery from these disorders. The program’s foundation is the value of lived experience of peers to assist others in achieving and maintaining recovery. These services, in conjunction with clinical treatment services, are an integral component of the recovery process for many people.
Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up to $1,200,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to 4

Recovery Community Services Program — Statewide Network

Application Due Date: May 30, 2023

The purpose of this program is to strengthen community-based recovery organizations, their statewide networks of recovery stakeholders, and specialty and general healthcare systems as key partners in the delivery of state and local recovery support services (RSS) through collaboration, systems improvement, public health messaging, and training conducted for or with key recovery groups.
Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up to $600,000
Anticipated # of Awards: 2

Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support Grant

Application Due Date: May 30, 2023

The purpose of this program is to implement evidence-based programs to support individuals in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery to live independently and participate in the workforce. Award recipients will be expected to ascertain gaps in the workforce and coordinate statewide employment and training activities for participants enrolled in their program with SUD in treatment and recovery.
Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up to $1,900,000
Anticipated # of Awards: 4

Strategic Prevention Framework — Partnerships for Success for Communities, Local Governments, Universities, Colleges, and Tribes/Tribal Organizations

Application Due Date: Monday, June 5, 2023

The purpose of this program is to help reduce the onset and progression of substance misuse and its related problems by supporting the development and delivery of community-based substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion services.
Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up to $16,500,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 44

Strategic Prevention Framework — Partnerships for Success for States

Application Due Date: Monday, June 5, 2023

The purpose of the SPF-PFS program is to help reduce the onset and progression of substance misuse and its related problems by supporting the development and delivery of state and community substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion services.
Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up to $17,500,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 14

Training & Events

Training and events are available for practitioners through SAMHSA’s Training and Technical Assistance Centers. Some of these are highlighted below. Visit SAMHSA’s Practitioner Training webpage for a more complete listing.

SAMHSA Headlines offers you a biweekly update of selected upcoming trainings and webinars. However, for a broader range of activities, visit this website, as well as the training sections of individual technical assistance center websites.

Selected events are highlighted below. Note that some of them require advance registration.

Note: If you are unable to access an event or webinar or have questions, please contact the source given at the individual event URL.

Initiating Buphrenorphine for Patients Using Fentanyl — Webinar

Friday, April 7, 2023 12:00 PM ET

This webinar will review variations on buprenorphine dosing that can be considered for patients with opioid use disorder involving fentanyl. The presenters will review the evidence for and describe low dose buprenorphine initiation of protocols, high dose buprenorphine initiation of protocols, approaches to help support patients stop using full agonist opioids for a longer period of time, and a clinical approach to referring patients to alternative medications for opioid use disorder.

Xylazine and How It Harms People Who Use Drugs — Virtual Roundtable

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 3:00 PM ET

We will review what is known to date on Xylazine, a CNS depressant, which has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths in the United States. This Roundtable will discuss its physiologic effects, and risk of xylazine harms including overdose and wounds along with suggested clinical best practices for providers and patients. This discussion is designed to promote interactivity through an informal “round table” conversation.

Essentials of Treating Stimulant Use Disorder — Webinar

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 1:00 PM ET

This training is designed to be a guide for addiction providers interested in providing and caring for people who use stimulants including cocaine and methamphetamines. Topics include neurobiology and physiology of addiction; identifying health risks of stimulant use; practical application of evidence-based treatment for patients who use stimulants in an office-based addiction treatment setting; management of overamping and acute stimulant intoxication; and harm reduction interventions.

What You Need to Know about Section 504 Plans — Webinar

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 1:00 PM ET

Do you have an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability in your practice? What is the difference between a 504 plan and an Individual Education Plan (IEP)? How do you best support these individuals and their families? Often providers are unaware of the benefits of 504 plans. Please join us to learn more about what a 504 plan is and how you can be an important resource for these individuals and families.

Zeroing in on Xylazine — Webinar

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 5:00 PM ET

This training will provide knowledge regarding Xylazine, a CNS depressant, which has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths in the US. This training will discuss the physiologic effects of Xylazine, manifestations of Xylazine intoxication, overdose, communicable infections associated with Xylazine use, and wound care for persons injecting Xylazine.

Parent Cafe: Gang Prevention: What Every Parent Needs to Know — Webinar

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 3:00 PM ET

Parent Cafe is an initiative that allows parents, guardians, and families within our community to participate in a virtual discussion group where industry leaders present topics that are relevant to the community’s mental health, share tips to manage mental health, and share resources.

Early Childhood Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention for School Personnel Series — Two-Part Webinar

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 6:00 PM ET

Part 1: Self-Harm and Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Childhood and Early adolescence will walk school and mental health providers through the guide and include exercises and common scenarios to support optimum use of the resource, Self-Harm and Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Childhood and Early Adolescence: A Resource for Elementary School Educators and School-Based Professionals.

Thursday, April 20th, 2023 6:00 PM ET

Part 2: Young Children and Suicide Prevention for Parents and Caregivers will discuss some of the risk factors for suicide, as well as how to recognize warning signs that a child may be considering suicide. We will practice ways to talk with children about suicide in an age-appropriate way, as well as how to take action and secure professional help if a child is in danger.

Addiction 101 — Webinar

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 10:00 AM ET

This one-hour course is intended to provide foundational knowledge of addiction. Topics include stigma, the disease model of addiction, and an overview of evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders will be provided.

De-Escalation, Basic Tools for Social Workers — Webinar

Thursday, April 19, 2023 12:00 PM ET

Difficult moments don’t have to grow into “incidents” that can threaten client engagement and retention. This workshop is designed to equip participants with basic concepts and preparatory actions that can be used to de-escalate a wide range of interactions.

Strategies for Promoting Mental Health and Wellness in Older Adults — Webinar

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 2:00 PM ET

This webinar will provide a brief overview of the older adult population in terms of demographic characteristics, the impact of aging baby boomers, address some common misconceptions of aging and introduce the concept of healthy aging. Building upon this concept of healthy aging the webinar will provide participants strategies that can be implemented to promote mental health and wellness. Some issues related to healthy aging in rural communities will also highlighted.

Innovations in the Field and Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) in Rural Communities — Webinar

Friday, April 21, 2023 12:00 PM ET

This presentation will review data and public health challenges in HIV/HCV prevention and SSP access in rural Massachusetts. It will also review models to bring services to most at-risk communities and what the future of providing these services looks like.

Blogs

Supporting Mental Health of Immigrant Women

Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to reflect on the long history of immigrant women in the United States. Women have made up a significant part of the immigrant population and currently comprise more than half of the total U.S. immigrant population. Throughout history, women have left their countries of origin fleeing poverty, conflict, persecution, and other conditions that affect their safety and livelihood. Women migrate to pursue work, educational opportunities, and a better life for themselves and their families yet many face arduous and traumatic conditions on their journeys.

Resources

New HHS Report Offers Evidence-Based Roadmap for Supporting LGBTQI+ Youth

A new report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a comprehensive overview of the scientific research and consensus that LGBTQI+ youth are resilient and can thrive when they are supported and affirmed, but that pervasive discrimination, rejection, and bullying of LGBTQI+ youth has led to a nationwide mental health crisis. The report, Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth, strengthens previous findings that it is normal and healthy for children to identify as LGBTQI+ and that all children should have their sexual orientation or gender identity affirmed and supported.

Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Non-Fatal Overdoses Report

The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Non-Fatal Overdoses Report focuses on national estimates and characteristics of non-fatal overdoses from January 2021 – June 2022. There was an average of 599,075 ED visits for non-fatal overdoses per year, representing a rate of 180 per 100,000 population. This short report identifies the top substance in non-fatal overdoses with nearly half (48.1%) involving opioids. Lastly, the short report shows the percentage of non-fatal overdoses that were polysubstance related (39.7%). Additional report resources are also available in the Non-Fatal Overdoses Short Report – Companion Document.