Summary of Block Grant Award

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services awarded $416,880 to the Ministry of Health in the Republic of the Marshall Islands under the Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services program (CFDA 93.958) for the two-year period from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This funding supports the establishment and maintenance of comprehensive community-based mental health service systems, enabling the delivery of evidence-based outpatient counseling, crisis intervention, case management, peer support services, and workforce training to adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances across the Marshall Islands.

Under this block grant, the Ministry of Health will provide community mental health services exclusively through qualified community programs, including community mental health centers and psychosocial rehabilitation programs. In accordance with statutory requirements, up to 5 percent of grant funds may be allocated for administrative costs, while a mandatory 10 percent set-aside must support evidence-based programs targeting individuals with early serious mental illness. The award specifically prohibits use of funds for inpatient services, capital improvements, and direct cash payments to service recipients, ensuring resources are directed toward community-based service delivery infrastructure.