Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2014 for Cooperative Agreements for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health (Project LAUNCH). The purpose of Project LAUNCH is to promote the wellness of young children from birth to 8 years by addressing the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of their development. The goal of Project LAUNCH is to create a shared vision for the wellness of young children that drives the development of federal, state, territorial, tribal, and locally-based networks for the coordination of key child-serving systems and the integration of behavioral and physical health services. The expected result is for children to be thriving in safe, supportive environments, and entering school ready to learn and able to succeed.

Project LAUNCH is grounded in the public health approach, working towards coordinated programs that take a comprehensive view of health, addressing the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of well-being. The public health approach addresses the health needs of the population rather than only addressing the health problems of individuals. Project LAUNCH seeks to improve outcomes at the individual and community levels by addressing risk factors that can lead to negative outcomes, especially impoverished communities. Project LAUNCH simultaneously promotes protective factors that support resilience and healthy development which can protect individuals from later social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral problems; including early substance and alcohol use. A major objective of this grant program is to strengthen and enhance the partnership between health and mental health at the federal, state/territorial/tribal, and local levels. States, territories, and tribes will select a local community within the larger jurisdiction to be a partner in Project LAUNCH. States, territories, and tribes will bring together child-serving organizations to develop policies, financial mechanisms and other reforms to improve the integration and efficiency of the child-serving system.

Project LAUNCH seeks to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities through this program by encouraging the implementation of strategies to decrease the differences in access, service use, and outcomes among the racial and ethnic minority young children and families served.

SAMHSA has demonstrated that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. SAMHSA has identified eight Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on people and emerging opportunities. Project LAUNCH is part of the Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness strategic initiative, which aims to support communities where individuals, families, schools, faith-based organizations, and workplaces take action to promote emotional health and reduce the likelihood of mental illness, substance abuse including tobacco, and suicide.

Project LAUNCH cooperative agreements are authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this program is limited to:

• State and territorial governments (Title V or lead Children’s Mental Health Agency); and
• Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes and tribal organizations.

SAMHSA believes that state and territorial governments (Title V or Mental Health Agency), federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations have the capacity to bring together child-serving organizations to develop policies, financial mechanisms and other reforms to improve the integration and efficiency of local child-serving systems.

Tribal organization means the recognized body of any AI/AN tribe; any legally established organization of AI/AN which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of AI/AN in all phases of its activities. Consortia of tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply, but each participating entity must indicate its approval. Consortia of tribes are expected to identify a lead applicant.

In an effort broaden the impact and increase the number of states, territories, federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes and tribal organizations, current and previously-funded State and Tribal Project LAUNCH grantees are not eligible to apply.

The statutory authority for this program prohibits grants to for-profit agencies.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Cooperative Agreement

Anticipated Total Available Funding: $10,202,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to 13

Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $800,000 per year

Length of Project: Up to 5 years

Cost Sharing/Match Required?: No

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $850,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) in any year of the proposed project. Annual continuation awards will depend on the availability of funds, grantee progress in meeting project goals and objectives, timely submission of required data and reports, and compliance with all terms and conditions of award.

Funding estimates for this announcement are based on an annualized Continuing Resolution and do not reflect the final FY 2014 appropriation. Applicants should be aware that funding amounts are subject to the availability of funds.