Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 Minority AIDS Initiative: Service Integration grant program. The purpose of this program is to integrate evidence-based, culturally competent mental and substance use disorder treatment with HIV primary care and prevention services. The population of focus is individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI) or co-occurring disorder (COD)[1] living with or at risk for HIV and/or hepatitis in at-risk populations, including racial and ethnic minority communities. SAMHSA expects that this program will reduce the incidence of HIV and improve overall health outcomes for individuals with SMI or COD.

While there has been an overall decline in new HIV infections in the U.S. from 2008-2014, racial and ethnic minority communities continue to experience disproportionate impacts of HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports significantly higher rates for HIV among racial and ethnic minority communities compared to the general population. In addition, rates of HIV and other blood-borne infections have remained higher for individuals with a SMI throughout the epidemic[2]. When untreated, mental disorders affect access to and maintenance in HIV care. A recent study demonstrates a lower rate of HIV testing in some public mental health settings, which serves as an indicator of unmet needs for this population[3]. The MAI-SI program objectives align with the National HIV AIDS Strategy[4] and the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan[5].

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[1] Co-occurring disorder refers to the presence of both a mental and substance use disorder.

[2] Documentation of Psychiatric Disorders and Related Factors in a Large Sample Population of HIV-Positive Patients in California

[3] Low Rates of HIV Testing among Adults with Severe Mental Illness Receiving Care in Community Mental Health Settings

[4] National HIV AIDS Strategy, 2020

[5] National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are domestic public and private non-profit entities. For example:

• Governmental units within political subdivisions of a state, such as a county, city or town.
• Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes, tribal organizations, Urban Indian Organizations, and consortia of tribes or tribal organizations.
• Public or private universities and colleges.
• Community and faith-based organizations.
• State governments, including territories (the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).

Tribal organization means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe; or any legally established organization of Indians 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 Indians in all phases of its activities. Consortia of tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply, but each participating entity must indicate its approval.  A single tribe in the consortium must be the legal applicant, the recipient of the award, and the entity legally responsible for satisfying the grant requirements.

Urban Indian Organization (UIO) (as identified by the Office of Indian Health Service Urban Indian Health Programs through active Title V grants/contracts) means a non-profit corporate body situated in an urban center governed by an urban Indian-controlled board of directors, and providing for the maximum participation of all interested Individuals and groups, which body is capable of legally cooperating with other public and private entities for the purpose of performing the activities described in 503(a) of 25 U .S.C. § 1603. UIOs are not tribes or tribal governments and do not have the same consultation rights or trust relationship with the federal government.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Grant

Anticipated Total Available Funding: $4,360,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to 10

Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $485,000 per year

Length of Project: Up to 4 years

Cost Sharing/Match Required?: No

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $485,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) in any year of the proposed project.  Annual continuation awards will depend on the availability of funds, recipient 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 2018 appropriation.  Applicants should be aware that funding amounts are subject to the availability of funds.