SAMHSA Block Grants

Over the past year SAMHSA has changed the way it administers the State Mental Health (MHBG) and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants (SAPTBG). In an effort to streamline the application and reporting procedures for these block grant programs, SAMHSA has developed a uniform application and reporting process to promote consistent planning, application, assurance and reporting dates across both block grants. Below you will find the new uniform block grant application. Among the changes to the block grant application is the expectation that States will:

  • Take a broader approach in reaching beyond the populations they have historically served through block grants
  • Conduct a needs assessment and develop a plan that will identify and analyze the strengths, needs and priorities of the State's behavioral health system - painting a fuller picture of the States behavioral system that we previously did not have.
  • Design and develop collaborative plans for health information systems€”grants and other funding.
  • Form strategic partnerships to provide individuals better access to good and modern health services
  • Focus more on services in support of recovery from mental health and substance use problems.
  • Focus their block programs on improving accountability for quality and performance of services they provide.
  • Description of tribal consultation activities.

For more information on the changes to the MHSBG and the SAPTBG please see the documents below, the Block Grant Application Frequently Asked Questions (PDF - 645 kbytes) and the summary of activities in implementing the Uniform Block Grant Application (PDF - 132 kbytes).

What are the Block Grants?

  • The Block Grants are grants given to States to allow States to address their unique behavioral health issues.
  • There are two block grants, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG) and the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHSBG).

What is the purpose of the Block Grants?

States will use the Block Grant program for prevention, treatment, recovery supports and other services that will supplement services covered by Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance. Specifically the Block Grant funds are directed toward four purposes:

  • Fund priority treatment and support services for individuals without insurance or for whom coverage is terminated for short periods of time.
  • Fund those priority treatment and support services not covered by Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance for low income individuals and that demonstrate success in improving outcomes and/or supporting recovery.
  • Fund primary prevention - universal, selective and indicated prevention activities and services for persons not identified as needing treatment.
  • Collect performance and outcome data to determine the ongoing effectiveness of behavioral health promotion, treatment and recovery support services and plan the implementation of new services on a nationwide basis.

Update on Block Grant Application Submissions

As of the September 1st 2011, 22 States and two jurisdictions have submitted a combined plan. In their submissions, the majority of States completed the required and requested sections of the Block Grant application. The additional sections submitted by States provide SAMHSA with critical information that will inform decision-making at the federal level. Below are two maps displaying the sections of the Block Grant Application that were submitted by each State and which States submitted combined applications. Based on the information submitted by States, SAMHSA is reviewing and analyzing the information.

Available Maps

https://info.samhsa.gov/dataset/Mental-Health-and-Substance-Abuse-Prevention-and-T/wxji-5nkw https://info.samhsa.gov/dataset/Mental-Health-And-Substance-Abuse-Prevention-And-T/qr8a-fzpc

On the maps listed above, states colored blue submitted one combined application and States colored brown submitted two separate applications (one from the State Mental Health Authority and one from the State Substance Abuse Authority) .Not displayed on the map are U.S. Territories whose information can be found in an expanded view of the dataset.

Why did the Block Grants change?

  • In light of changing health care systems, laws and knowledge and conditions in States, the Block Grants have followed suit.
  • SAMHSA's changed FY 2012/2013 Block Grants to help get State behavioral health systems ready for 2014 when more people will be insured through Medicaid or 3rd party insurance. Under this new approach States and territories have the opportunity to use block grant dollars for prevention, treatment, recovery supports and other services that supplement services covered by Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance.

Last updated: 11/10/2011

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