Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) announces the availability of funds to expand/enhance grant activities funded under the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs) grant announcement.  This program is being funded by both the Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative Fund (SMAIF) and CSAT’s Minority AIDS funds.

The purpose of the ATTCs is to develop and strengthen the workforce that provides addictions treatment and recovery support services to those in need.  In partnership with Single State Authorities (SSAs), treatment provider associations, addictions counselors, multidisciplinary behavioral health professionals, faith and recovery community leaders, family members of those in recovery, and other stakeholders, the ATTCs assess the training and development needs of the substance use disorders workforce, and develop and conduct training and technology transfer activities to meet identified needs.  Particular emphasis is on increasing knowledge and improving skills in using evidence-based and promising treatment/recovery practices in recovery-oriented systems of care.

SAMHSA currently funds 10 regional ATTCs that provide crucial support for addressing behavioral health issues at the regional and local levels.  In addition, four ATTCs receive funding to address a national focus area and one ATTC serves as the national coordinating office.  These 15 ATTCs provide comprehensive support with respect to developing and enhancing the workforce.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) clearly articulates the need for substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders treatment resources to be strategically concentrated in areas with high rates of HIV infection and the need for targeting specific population subgroups at higher risk, such as young minority men who have sex with men (YMSM).  According to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, from 2008 to 2010, HIV infections among young black/African American MSM increased by 20 percent.  In 2010, young MSM accounted for 72 percent of new HIV infections among all persons aged 13 to 24, and 30 percent of new infections among all MSM. At the end of 2010, 56% of persons living with HIV in the United States were MSM or MSM injection drug users (IDU).

In order to decrease the rate of substance abuse and new HIV infections among racial/ethnic minority YMSM (ages 18-29), a current ATTC grantee will develop a Center of Excellence (CoE) to serve this population as well as expand/develop efforts focusing on the LGBT population in general.  Within the first year, the primary function of the ATTC-CoE is to provide national subject matter expertise on working with the YMSM population.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to SAMHSA FY 2012 ATTC grantees.  SAMHSA believes that the most effective way to accomplish the goals of this three-year supplemental program is to limit eligibility to the identified existing SAMHSA ATTC grantees because they have the infrastructure, partnerships, and necessary knowledge and skills already in place to rapidly implement the Center of Excellence without a lengthy start-up period or lengthy breaks in service.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Grant

Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up to $676,875 in year 1 ($576,875 from SMAIF and $100,000 from CSAT’s Minority AIDS funds) Up to $576,875 in years 2 and 3 from CSAT’s Minority AIDS

Anticipated Number of Awards: One award

Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $676,875 for year and up to $576,875 per year for years 2 and 3 of the program.

Length of Project: Up to 3 Years

Cost Sharing/Match Required?: No

It is expected that up to $676,875 will be available to fund one award in FY 2014 and up to $576,875 will be available in FY 2015 and FY 2016.  

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $676,875 in total costs (direct and indirect) for Year 1 and cannot exceed $576,875 in total costs (direct and indirect) for Years 2 and 3.

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.