Project Grant H79SM091455

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Erise Williams and Associates, Inc. $738,127 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to implement the Behavioral Health Community Safety and Recovery Initiative (BHCS-RI).

BHCS-RI will build a trauma-informed, community-based care coordination system addressing behavioral health impacts of crime, violence, trauma, and disorder in St. Louis City, Missouri, and St. Clair County/East St. Louis, Illinois. The project will strengthen referral pathways, trusted outreach, workforce training, post-incident response, and cross-system collaboration among public health, behavioral health, education, law enforcement, faith-based, and community-based partners. Services target youth ages 5–24, families, caregivers, and individuals affected by violence, substance misuse, mental health challenges, grief, suicide risk, and social or economic instability, with priority focus on North St. Louis City and East St. Louis. The project will prioritize youth involved with or at risk for involvement with schools, juvenile justice, child welfare, healthcare, crisis response, and social service systems.

The award period runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031, with place of performance at St. Louis, MO 63115.