Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services Award Summary

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services awarded $5.39 million to the Missouri Department of Mental Health (Division of Behavioral Health) on October 1, 2025, under the Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services program (CFDA 93.958). This two-year block grant, with a completion date of September 30, 2027, will support comprehensive community-based mental health services across Missouri. The award enables the state agency to deliver critical behavioral health interventions including outpatient counseling, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, case management, housing assistance, peer support, workforce training, and public education campaigns targeting adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances.

The block grant structure allows Missouri to exercise discretion in allocating funds to achieve these objectives through qualified community programs, including community mental health centers, child mental health programs, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, and peer-support initiatives. Per statutory requirements, the state must maintain records consistent with state law, dedicate resources toward programs demonstrating strong evidence of effectiveness for early serious mental illness, and ensure integrated services for children with serious emotional disturbance. The award represents continued federal investment in community-based mental health infrastructure and reflects SAMHSA's commitment to supporting states' comprehensive mental health service delivery systems.