Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) PPHF- 2014 Cooperative Agreements for State-Sponsored Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention (Short Title: State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Cooperative Agreements) (PPHF-2014). The purpose of this program is to support states and tribes (including Alaska Villages and urban Indian organizations) in developing and implementing statewide or tribal youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies, grounded in public/private collaboration. Such efforts must involve public/private collaboration among youth-serving institutions and agencies and should include schools, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, foster care systems, substance abuse and mental health programs, and other child and youth supporting organizations.

As a result of the State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Cooperative Agreements, states, tribes, and communities will:

• Increase the number of persons in youth-serving organizations such as schools, foster care systems, and juvenile justice programs, trained to identify and refer youth at risk for suicide
• Increase the number of clinical service providers (including those working in health, mental health, and substance abuse) trained to assess, manage, and treat youth at risk for suicide
• Improve continuity of care and follow-up of youth identified at risk for suicide discharged from emergency department and inpatient psychiatric units
• Increase the identification of risk, referral and utilization of behavioral health care services
• Increase the promotion and utilization of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Comprehensively implement applicable sections of the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention to reduce rates of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide deaths in their communities

SAMHSA has demonstrated that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral health services improve health status and reduce health care and other costs to society. Continued improvement in the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services provides a cost effective opportunity to advance and protect the nation’s health. To continue to improve the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services, SAMHSA has identified eight Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The State and Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention grants closely align with SAMHSA’s Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Strategic Initiative. More information is available. The State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grant program will address the prevention of suicides and attempted suicides among populations at high risk, especially military families, youth, and AI/AN, as well as the expected impact on behavioral health disparities. See Appendix J of the RFA: Addressing Behavioral Health Disparities.)

The Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grants are authorized under Section 520E of the Public Health Service Act, as amended and are financed in part by 2014 Prevention and Public Health funds (PPHF-2014). This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD.

The State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Cooperative Agreements Program is one of SAMHSA’s services grant programs. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the 4^th month of the project at the latest. SAMHSA expects grantees to work collaboratively with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are:

• States (Including D.C. and the territories)
• Federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations (as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act), or urban Indian organizations (as defined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act) that are actively involved in the development and continuation of a tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategy
• Public or private non-profit organizations designated by a state, federally recognized Indian tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization, to develop or direct the state/tribal-sponsored youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategy

No single state agency is mandated to be the lead for State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Program grants, as states differ in which state agency has taken the lead for suicide prevention (e.g., Department of Health, Department of Mental Health).  Where states have a plan that designates a lead agency, that agency should act as the lead or should designate an alternative lead for State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program.  If the state plan does not designate a lead agency, justify the selection of the lead agency for this application.  Although only one agency should be the lead, inclusion of all youth-serving agencies is expected. 

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

States and/or tribes who have been previous recipients of the State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Program award who do not currently have a grant are eligible but are required to address how this grant award will build on and/or expand the work of the earlier grant awards and not simply continue what was done previously.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Cooperative Agreement

Anticipated Total Available Funding: $17,707,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: 24

Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $736,000 per year

Length of Project: Up to 5 years

Cost Sharing/Match Required?: No

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $736,000 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.  This program is financed in part by 2014 Prevention and Public Health Funds (PPHF-2014).

These awards will be made as cooperative agreements.