Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2017 Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma (Short Title: ReCAST Program) grants. The purpose of this program is to assist high-risk youth and families and promote resilience and equity in communities that have recently faced civil unrest through implementation of evidence-based, violence prevention, and community youth engagement programs, as well as linkages to trauma-informed behavioral health services. The goal of the ReCAST Program is for local community entities to work together in ways that lead to improved behavioral health, empowered community residents, reductions in trauma, and sustained community change.

For the purposes of this FOA, civil unrest is defined as demonstrations of mass protest and mobilization, community harm, and disruption through violence often connected with law enforcement issues. Communities that have experienced civil unrest share similar characteristics ^[1]:

• Barriers to access and lack of social services, health care, legal and political representation, housing, employment, and education;
• Current and historic strains in community and public sector relationships, e.g., law enforcement, school, health, and/or housing and community relationships; and
• Racial/ethnic minority and marginalized populations with experiences of poverty and inequality.

The ReCAST Program closely aligns with SAMHSA’s Recovery Support and Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiatives. More information on these Initiatives is available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/strategic-initiatives. In addition, this 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.)

ReCAST Program grants 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.
 

[1] U.S. Department of Justice. Investigation of the Ferguson Police Department (2015). http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/04/ferguson_police_department_report.pdf

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are local municipalities (e.g., counties, cities, and local governments) in partnership with community-based organizations that have faced civil unrest within the past 24 months from the posting of this FOA.

The FY 2016 Appropriations included language that SAMHSA should prioritize funding grants from communities that have formed partnerships between key stakeholders including state and local governments (including multiple cities and counties if impacted); public or private universities and colleges; and non-profit community and faith- based organizations. Therefore, SAMHSA is limiting eligibility to local municipalities (e.g., counties, cities, and local governments) in partnership with community-based organizations that have faced civil unrest within the past 24 months from the posting of the FOA. SAMHSA believes that local municipalities are in the best position to implement a coordinated, public health approach that leads to improved behavioral health and sustained community change and to develop partnerships within the community that result in high-risk youth and their families having equitable access to resources and services.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Grant

Anticipated Total Available Funding: $2,500,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to 2 awards

Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $1,000,000 per year

Length of Project: Up to 5 years

Cost Sharing/Match Required?: No

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $1,000,000 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.