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Center for Mental Health Services
National Advisory Council
Washington, D.C.
Director's Report
January 20 & 21, 2000
Since the Advisory Council last met in September 1999, efforts of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)
have focused on two major initiatives with the potential to change the face of mental health in the new century.
They are:
- Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher issued the Nation's first
Surgeon General's report to focus exclusively on mental health. CMHS was the lead agency in developing the
groundbreaking report, which was released at a White House event in mid-December. The report focuses attention
on the fundamental importance of mental health to the overall health and well being of the Nation and its citizens.
It includes an assessment of research about effective treatments and service delivery strategies for many mental
illnesses. The report sets the stage for change by providing an opportunity to dispel the myths and stigma
associated with mental illness. It will serve as a focal point for many future activities within the Department
of Health and Human Services.
- Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. In FY 1999, CMHS received a $40 million appropriation from Congress
to address school violence. Known as the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, the program is a major
collaborative effort of the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice, the Federal
agencies that received funding for this effort. In September 1999, grants of $1 to $3 million were awarded
to 54 local education authorities that have formal partnerships with local mental health and law enforcement
agencies. These partnerships will implement comprehensive plans to promote healthy childhood development, foster
resilience, and prevent youth violence. The funds will be used by local school districts to help communities
design and implement comprehensive educational, mental health, social service, law enforcement, and juvenile
justice services for youth. Grant awards totaled $105 million. As the first large-scale effort of its kind at
this level of funding, the initiative sets the stage for changing the growing trend of school violence in the
Nation's schools.
While a tremendous amount of CMHS staff time and energy are being put into implementing these two initiatives,
a broad array of ongoing projects and programs are underway throughout the Center. Many of these activities and
programs are described in greater detail throughout the report.
KEN00-0077
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