The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding up to $14 million for planning grants to expand Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families (Short Title: System of Care Expansion Planning Grants). The purpose of these grants is to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for improving and expanding services provided by systems of care for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families.

 A “system of care” is an organizational philosophy and framework that is designed to create a network of effective community-based services and supports to improve the lives of children and youth with or at risk of serious mental health conditions and their families. Systems of care build meaningful partnerships with families and youth, address cultural and linguistic needs, and use evidence-based practices to help children, youth and families function better at home, in school, in the community and throughout life. 

“System of care grants bring a wide array of positive forces together in communities to improve almost every aspect of a young person’s health and well-being – including their behavioral health,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “In addition it builds an environment where families and entire communities also benefit from these enhanced services.”

The program will provide up to 24 grants with grants of between $300,000 to $800,000 for up to one year. The actual amounts of the grants will depend on the availability of funds and the performance of the grantees.

The grantees and the amount of their awards are:

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Olympia, Wash.        $800,000

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass.                                                     $500,000

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pa.                                                      $796,148

Cherokee Nation, Tahequah, Okla.                                                                             $795,837

Ohio Department of Mental Health, Columbus, Ohio                                               $772,095

Pueblo of San Felipe, San Felipe Pueblo, N.M.                                                          $349,146

Illinois Department of Human Services, Chicago, Ill.                                                $769,298

Maine Department of Health & Human Services, Augusta, Maine                           $799,652

State of Hawaii Department of Health, Honolulu, Hawaii                                        $520,975

South Carolina Department of Mental Health, Columbia, S.C.                                 $359,309

State of Rhode Island, Providence, R.I.                                                                    $300,000

Guam Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Tamuning, Guam                   $500,000

Humboldt County Health and Human Services, Eureka, Calif.                                 $403,775

Oklahoma Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Oklahoma City, Okla.    $800,000

Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Austin, Texas                                $758,132

Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, Inc., Sault Sainte Marie, Mich.                             $711,133

West Virginia Dept. of Health and Human Resources, Charleston, W.Va.               $302,245

City of New Orleans, New Orleans, La.                                                                    $300,000

Colorado Department of Human Services, Denver, Colo.                                         $800,000

Florida Department of Children and Families, Tallahassee, Fla.                                $799,401

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Catonsville, Md.                  $596,852

Virginia Dept. of Behavioral Health & Development, Richmond, Va.                      $586,718

District of Columbia Department of Mental Health, Washington, D.C.                    $392,411

New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services, Concord, N.H.                    $300,029