Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services awarded the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJ DHS) $9.34 million in Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services (CFDA 93.958) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This two-year block grant enables NJ DHS to deliver comprehensive community-based mental health services to adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances across the state. Services funded under this award include outpatient counseling, crisis intervention, case management, housing assistance, peer support services, and workforce training initiatives delivered through qualified community mental health centers, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, and mental health peer-support organizations.

As the designated state agency administering the grant, NJ DHS functions as a pass-through entity, issuing sub-awards to local non-profit organizations, community-based entities, and county-level agencies to ensure comprehensive service delivery across New Jersey's diverse communities. In accordance with program requirements, NJ DHS must allocate at least 10 percent of grant funds toward evidence-based programs targeting individuals with early serious mental illness, including psychotic disorders, and may use up to 5 percent of total funding for administrative expenses. The funding supports NJ DHS's broader behavioral health portfolio, which currently exceeds $10 million in annual SAMHSA block grants and project awards across community mental health services, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and crisis intervention initiatives.