Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2016 National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI) – Category III, Community Treatment and Services (CTS) centers grants.  The purpose of this program is to provide and increase access to effective trauma-focused treatment and services systems in communities for children, adolescents, and their families who experience traumatic events throughout the nation.

The overall goal of the program is to improve the quality of trauma treatment and services for children, adolescents, and their families who experience or witness traumatic events; and to increase access to effective trauma-focused treatment and services for children and adolescents throughout the nation.  The work of this initiative is carried out by a national network of grantees – the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – that works collaboratively to develop and promote effective trauma treatment, services, and other resources for children, adolescents, and families exposed to an array of traumatic events. The NCTSN members collaborate with one another, and partner with systems of care where children, adolescents, and families who have experienced trauma receive services in their communities.

The NCTSI program seeks to address behavioral health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities by encouraging the implementation of strategies to decrease the differences in access, service use, and outcomes among the racial and ethnic minority populations served. (See PART II:  Appendix F – Addressing Behavioral Health Disparities.)

Children of deployed military personnel have more school-, family-, and peer-related emotional difficulties in comparison to national samples. Therefore, SAMHSA has identified military families as a priority population under this funding opportunity.

For more background information on NCTSI please refer to Appendix V of the FOA.

The Category III CTS grants are one of SAMHSA’s services grant programs.  SAMHSA intends for its services grants to result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award.  Service delivery should begin by the sixth month of the project at the latest.

The Category III CTS grants are authorized under section 582 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

Eligible applicants are domestic public and private nonprofit entities.  For example:

• State and local governments
• Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes and tribal organizations
• Urban Indian organizations
• Public or private universities and colleges
• Community- and faith-based organizations

Tribal organization means the recognized body of any AI/AN tribe; any legally established organization of American Indians/Alaska Natives 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 American Indians/Alaska Natives in all phases of its activities.  Consortia of tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply, but each participating entity must indicate its approval.

Applicants may also apply for the NCTSI TSA center cooperative agreements.  However, SAMHSA will only fund one NCTSI CTS center or TSA center application.  SAMHSA may consider priority score, balance among programs, and geographical distribution when making funding decisions.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Cooperative Agreement

Anticipated Total Available Funding: $22,400,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: 56

Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $400,000

Length of Project: Up to 5 years

Cost Sharing/Match Required?: No

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $400,000 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.