CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
October 21, 2003, Vol. 03-95

HHS AWARDS $57 MILLION FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced $57 million over six years for seven cooperative agreements to develop systems of care that deliver community mental health services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances, and their families.

HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will administer the seven cooperative agreements. First year funding totals $6,991,093. All seven grantees will develop community service systems for their targeted population and participate in a national multi-site evaluation to strengthen their capacity to care for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances.

"The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health concluded that our nation's mental health service delivery system must provide services and treatments that are consumer and family-oriented," Secretary Thompson said. "These grants will help us move toward this end by helping many children with serious emotional disturbances, and their families."

"It is important that children in need of mental health services can be treated with quality services within their communities," SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie said. "These programs will promote more effective ways to organize, coordinate and deliver mental health services that are comprehensive and culturally-competent."

There are an estimated 4.5 - 6.3 million children and youth with serious emotional disturbances.

These awards are expected to last six years. Annual renewals of the awards depend on the availability of funds and progress achieved.

The grantees include:

Louisiana Says YES to Children Initiative, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Jefferson, and St. Tammany Parishes, La. -- $1,000,000 for the first year. This project will incorporate a comprehensive and coordinated system of care for children with serious emotional and behavioral disorders. The program is expected to receive $1,500,000 in year two, $2,500,000 in year three, 2,000,000 in year four, $1,500,000 in year five and $1,000,000 in year six.

La Familia Sana/The Healthy Family System of Care, Monterey, Calif. - $999,639 for the first year. This project will enhance the system of care for children's mental health services by increasing the use of evidence-based practices, improving cultural competence and integrating family members at all levels. The program is expected to receive $1,499,527 in the second year, $2,264,963 in the third year, $1,988,888 in the fourth year, $1,488,845 in the fifth year and $998,880 in the sixth year.

Urban Trails, Oakland, Calif. -- $999,923 for the first year. This project will coordinate case management and individualized services plans for Native American youth and their families and coordinate a training institute that will provide cultural competency training for public officials, staff members at mainstream agencies, foster parents and others to manage the project. The program is expected to receive the same amount for the remaining five years.

Transitions: St. Louis System of Care, St.Louis, Mo.-- $999,535. The goal of this project is to ensure that children and youth with severe emotional disturbances who are served within the child welfare system receive needed mental health support throughout transitions in their childhood. The program is expected to receive $1,499,200 in the second year, $2,499,753 in the third year, $1,999,565 in the fourth year, $1,488,600 in the fifth year, and 996,701 in the sixth year.

Mid-Columbia Child and Family Partnership, Wasco, Sherman, Hood River, and Gilliam Counties, Ore. -- $1,000,000. This project will provide comprehensive services and implement a system of care that is youth and family-centered. The program is expected to receive $1,377,295 in the second year, $1,490,921 in the third year, $1,152,004 in the fourth year, $809,796 in the fifth year, and $809,796 in the sixth year.

YouthNet-A Comprehensive Child Mental Health Program, Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties, S.C. -- $991,996. This project will offer an array of mental health and other related services to support youth from birth to age 21. Intensive family preservation services will be developed for 240 families with children under the age of six. The program is expected to receive $1,484,140 in the second year, $2,013,787 in the third year, $1,096,881 in the fourth year, $679,525 in the fifth year and $678,218 in the sixth year.

Project Tapestry: Weaving Solutions for Children of Mental Health, Cuyahoga County, Ohio -- $1,000,000. This project will enhance the Cuyahoga County System of Care by increasing access to mental health services and merging a mental health case wraparound model with a pioneering child welfare reform initiative to meet the needs of traditional underserved populations in the community. The program is expected to receive $1,500,000 in the second year, $2,500,000 in the third year, $2,000,000 in the fourth year, $1,500,000 in the fifth year and $1,000,000 in the sixth year.

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SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health service delivery systems.

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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.