Block grants for community mental health services

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the Louisiana Department of Health $28,703,502 on October 1, 2025, under the Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services program (CFDA 93.958). The award funds comprehensive community mental health services to adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance across Louisiana through October 1, 2026, and obligated funds remain available through September 30, 2027. The Louisiana Department of Health's Office of Behavioral Health, operating as the Bureau of Health Services Financing, administers the grant from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The program enables states to develop and implement comprehensive community-based mental health systems, provide technical assistance, and monitor progress toward integrated service delivery. Services are delivered through qualified community programs including community mental health centers, child mental health programs, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, mental health peer-support programs, and consumer-directed programs. Up to 5 percent of grant funds support program administration. States must set aside 10 percent for evidence-based programs targeting individuals with early serious mental illness, including psychotic disorders, and maintain expenditure levels for children with serious emotional disturbance at no less than fiscal year 1994 levels. Funds may not support inpatient services, cash payments to service recipients, facility construction or major equipment purchases, or assistance to non-public or non-nonprofit entities.

The Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority received a sub-award (B09SM090731-OBH-375-001) dated July 30, 2026, to deliver mental health services under the statutory framework of the Mental Health Block Grant.