Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services

To provide financial assistance to States and Territories to enable them to carry out the State's plan for providing comprehensive community mental health services to adults with a serious mental illness and to children with a serious emotional distu

Provides comprehensive community mental health services to adults with a serious mental illness and to children with a serious emotional disturbance; monitor the progress in implementing a comprehensive community based mental health system; provide technical assistance to States and the Mental Health Planning Council that will assist the States in planning and implementing a comprehensive community based mental health system.

States and U.S. Territories and possessions.

Funds may be used at the discretion of the state to achieve the described objectives except for certain requirements. State plans must meet prescribed criteria. Services under the plan will be provided only through appropriate, qualified community programs (which may include community mental health centers, child mental-health programs, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, mental health peer-support programs and mental-health primary consumer- directed programs). Services under the plan will be provided through community mental health centers only if the centers meet prescribed criteria. Up to 5 percent of grant funds may be used for administering the funds. Funds may not be used to provide inpatient services; to make cash payments to intended recipients of health services; to purchase or improve land, purchase, construct, or permanently improve (other than minor remodeling) any building or other facility, or purchase major medical equipment; to satisfy any requirement for the expenditure of nonfederal funds as a condition for the receipt of Federal funds; or to provide financial assistance to any entity other than a public or nonprofit private entity. States are required to provide systems of integrated services for children with SED. Each year the State shall expend not less than the amount expended in FY 1994. States are also required to set aside 10 percent of their allocation for implementing programs showing strong evidence of effectiveness that targets individuals with early serious mental illness including psychotic disorders. Other statutory requirements also apply.

Up to 5 percent of grant funds may be used for administering the funds. Funds may not be used to provide inpatient services; to make cash payments to intended recipients of health services; to purchase or improve land, purchase, construct, or permanently improve (other than minor remodeling) any building or other facility, or purchase major medical equipment; to satisfy any requirement for the expenditure of nonfederal funds as a condition for the receipt of Federal funds; or to provide financial assistance to any entity other than a public or nonprofit private entity. States are required to provide systems of integrated services for children with SED. Each year the State shall expend not less than the amount expended in FY 1994. States are also required to set aside 10 percent of their allocation for implementing programs showing strong evidence of effectiveness that targets individuals with early serious mental illness including psychotic disorders. Other statutory requirements also apply.

Each allotment is available for obligation and expenditure during the fiscal year in which it was allotted through the end of the subsequent fiscal year.

Applications must fulfill statutory and regulatory requirements. For information regarding statutory and regulatory requirements, contact Division of State & Community Systems Development, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA, HHS, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20850. Telephone: (240) 276-1100.

MHBG Grant Awards are issued directly by The Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to the designated State agency.