15 Jan Funding Alert! System of Care Expansion and Sustainability Grants
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Center for Mental Health Services
Does your public agency provide mental health services for children and their families? SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services recently opened its 2021 Grants for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances program (also known as System of Care (SOC) Expansion and Sustainability Grants). This program aims to improve mental health outcomes for children and youth (up to age 21) who have serious emotional disturbances (SED) and for their families. The deadline for applications is coming up quickly on February 5, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public entities, such as state governments and territories, government units within political subdivisions of state, and federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native tribes and tribal organizations. State applicants must identify at least two local jurisdictions within the state where the proposed services will be implemented, and other applicants must demonstrate collaboration with their respective state. Note that all applicants must register with the National Institutes of Health’s eRA Commons in order to submit an application, a process which can take up to six weeks.
What is the program goal?
SOC Expansion and Sustainability Grants support the implementation, expansion, and integration of the SOC approach by creating a sustainable, collaborative infrastructure for providing evidence-based supports and services in alignment with SAMHSA’s Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) program.
Proposed programs must include the following CMHI-aligned activities:
- Provide evidence-based mental health services to children with SED, such as diagnostic and evaluation, outpatient, emergency, home-based, and recovery support services;
- Implement services, supports, and mechanisms to engage families through activities such as mentoring programs, youth leadership development, and parent and peer support; and
- Develop or enhance a governance structure or board to guide decision-making at the policy level for the SOC.
Awardees may choose to pursue additional activities, such as developing collaborative partnerships across multiple agencies or providing training and continuing education to service providers. The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) includes the full list of required and allowable activities on pages 7-9.
The funder expects to award between five and 15 grants of up to $1,000,000 for political subdivisions, territories, and tribal organizations or up to $3,000,000 for states. At least two of these awards will be made to tribes or tribal organizations, if possible. This program has a four-year period of performance and requires a cost share match of $1 from non-federal sources for every $3 of federal funds in the first three years, and $1 for $1 in the fourth year.
What makes a project a good fit?
Proposed projects should be consistent with the unique needs and priorities of the state, territory, political subdivision, tribe, or tribal organization that will be responsible for the service delivery system. Applicants will demonstrate this by providing a state or county strategic plan, needs assessment, or letter from government officials confirming the local priorities to be addressed.
In addition, SOC Expansion and Sustainability grants may only fund infrastructure development and services that are not covered by Medicaid, private, or other types of insurance.
What if I am ready to apply? To move your project forward, take the following action steps as soon as possible:
- Review the full FOA for additional details and project activities.
- If your organization has never submitted a SAMHSA grant, you can find more information and watch training webinars about the application and submission process on the agency’s applicant resource page.
- Begin the process of registering your organization with eRA Commons.
- Make sure your System for Award Management (SAM) registration is active and be sure you have agov profile. You can check your SAM status here: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/searchRecords/search.jsf.
What if I need help with this application?
Contact Assel Grant Services (AGS) today! Our team can help with all aspects of preparing the application and managing the grant if you are awarded. If you would like to discuss this possibility, please contact AGS as soon as possible. Rosie Brennan, Community Engagement Specialist, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you a quote for grant services.
What if I am not ready to apply this year?
Start preparing for next year! SAMHSA also has a variety of other programs and funding opportunities available that might be a good fit. The office’s website has ample resources, webinars, and descriptions of available or upcoming opportunities.
How do I learn more about federal grant opportunities?
AGS is excited to offer a new Federal Grants Training Series coming in 2021! The series is designed to support nonprofit professionals before and during their first federal grant. AGS also offers several on demand webinars on a variety of topics to support the full grant cycle. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for our training newsletter.
AGS blogs, funding alerts, and trainings are aligned with the Grant Professional Certification Institute’s Competencies and Skills
Competency #1: Knowledge of how to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs
Skill 1.2: Identify major trends in public funding and public policy
Skill 1.6: Identify fundable programs and projects for specific organization
Skill 1.7: Determine best matches between funders and specific programs