Implementation Cooperative Agreements for Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program (System of Care (SOC) Expansion Implementation Cooperative Agreements)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2014 Implementation Cooperative Agreements for Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program (System of Care (SOC) Expansion Implementation Cooperative Agreements) grants. The purpose of this program is to improve behavioral health outcomes for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families. This program supports the operation, expansion, and integration of SOC through the creation of sustainable infrastructure which allows for the provision of and access to required services and supports that adhere to the values, principles, and practices comprising the system of care approach to become the primary way in which children’s mental health services are delivered throughout the nation. This cooperative agreement is intended to support the availability and provision of mental health and related recovery support services to children and youth with emotional disturbances along with the implementation of systemic changes in policy, financing, services and supports, training and workforce development, and other areas that are necessary for expanding and sustaining the system of care approach, and to accomplish these goals through linkages with other health reform implementation efforts. The goal of the SOC Expansion Implementation cooperative agreements is to build upon progress made in developing comprehensive strategic plans to expand and sustain the SOC values and principles to address children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families. SAMHSA expects that these grants will help facilitate wide scale adoption and operation of the SOC framework (across large geographic regions such as those represented by states, tribes, and territories) and increase State Medicaid and other third party reimbursement for the SOC spectrum of services and supports. Applicants are expected to implement plans to create comprehensive and sustainable policies, infrastructure, required services and supports consistent with the requirements authorized under Sections 561-565 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.The SOC Expansion Implementation cooperative agreements closely align with SAMHSA’s Recovery Support, Trauma and Justice, and Health Reform Strategic Initiatives by focusing resources on reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American communities and addressing the behavioral health impacts of trauma through a systematic public health approach. The SOC Expansion Implementation Grant is one of SAMHSA’s services grant programs. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the 6th month of the project at the latest.The SOC Expansion Implementation grants are authorized under Sections 561-565 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD.