Description
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, in partnership with the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2012 for Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTC) grants. The purpose of this program is to develop and strengthen the workforce that provides addictions treatment and recovery support services to those in need. In partnership with Single State Authorities, treatment provider associations, addictions counselors, multidisciplinary behavioral health professionals, faith and recovery community leaders, family members of those in recovery, and other stakeholders, the ATTCs assess the training and development needs of the substance use disorders workforce, and develop and conduct training and technology transfer activities to meet identified needs. Particular emphasis is on increasing knowledge and improving skills in using evidence-based and promising treatment/recovery practices in recovery-oriented systems of care. A qualified, well-trained workforce is central to the successful implementation of SAMHSA's 8 Strategic Initiatives; workforce development is a fundamental component of each Initiative. This program is expected to directly support and enhance SAMHSA's new regional presence. Through the funding of this effort, SAMHSA expects to provide training and technical assistance (TA) which will ultimately lead to a more educated and capable addictions workforce. Now, more than ever, it is critical that the addictions workforce be prepared for the influx of services expected to be needed through the implementation of Health Reform. Specific goals include but are not limited to: the expansion of the number of participants trained; clear application of information gained through training/TA; participant sharing of information gained through training/TA; and demonstrated linkages with Single State Authorities (SSAs). In conjunction with SAMHSA's establishment of its regional offices, the ATTC structure has been shifted to be more closely aligned to the Department of Health and Human Services regional office structure. The ten regional ATTCs will provide crucial support for addressing behavioral health issues at the regional and local levels. In addition, this program will support four ATTCs with a national focus and one regional coordinating center. These fifteen ATTCs will provide comprehensive support with respect to developing and enhancing the workforce. In order to maintain consistency and maximize impact, it is critical that the ATTCs remain aligned with SAMHSA's direction and leadership on key priority areas. Examples of priority areas include the recovery definition and principles, emphasis on military families, and health reform enrollment and eligibility efforts. Additionally, SAMHSA is in the process of developing a consensus definition of trauma and trauma informed care and guidelines for the implementation of trauma-informed systems that will have applicability across different service sectors. These efforts build on SAMHSA's multiple investments and multiple directions in trauma work. While these investments have made significant contributions to the field, they have also led to a proliferation of definitions and approaches. This expert consensus process will clarify SAMHSA's trauma-informed approach to care which should be disseminated by its programs, policies and technical assistance entities. ATTC grants are authorized under Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA.