Cooperative Agreements for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2011 Cooperative Agreements for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). The purpose of this program is to implement screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment services for adults in primary care and community health settings, for substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUD). This program is designed to expand/enhance the State and Tribal continuum of care for substance misuse services and reduce alcohol and drug consumption and its negative health impact; increase abstinence and reduce costly health care utilization; promote sustainability and behavioral health information technology. The program is designed to expand/enhance the State/Tribe’s continuum of care to include universal, adult SBIRT services in primary care and a mix of other community settings (e.g., health centers, nursing homes, university health centers, employee assistance and job training sites, hospitals, emergency departments, office-based practices and Military, Reserve and Guard units) and supports clinically appropriate services for persons at risk (asymptomatic) for, or diagnosed with, an SUD. It also seeks to identify and sustain systems and policy changes to increase access to treatment in generalist and specialist settings. The SBIRT program focus is consistent with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). The NDCS promotes behavioral health and primary care integration through early screening and brief interventions (SBI); increasing health care provider’s knowledge and use of SBI; and promotes SBI reimbursement strategies. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA, in collaboration with other Federal agencies, States, Tribes, local organizations, and individuals including consumers and the recovery community, has demonstrated again and again in research and practice - prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral health is an essential part of health service systems and community-wide strategies that work to improve health status and lower costs for families, businesses, and governments. Through continued improvement in the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services, SAMHSA with its partners can advance and protect the Nation’s health. In order to achieve this goal, SAMHSA has identified eight Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The SBIRT program addresses the Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Strategic Initiative, as well as the Health Reform Initiative. More information on SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiatives is available at the SAMHSA web site: http://www.samhsa.gov/About/strategy.aspx. SBIRT 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 4th month of the project at the latest. SBIRT grants are authorized under 509 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA. SAMHSA strongly encourages all grantees to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote abstinence from all tobacco products (except in regard to accepted tribal traditions and practices).