Aiming to strengthen American families affected by addiction, today the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is issuing a total of $13.3 million in first-year funding between two grant programs that support direct treatment services for people with substance use disorders and wraparound supports for their loved ones.
One program focuses on pregnant and postpartum women grappling with a substance use disorder. The other is an effort to enhance and expand comprehensive treatment, early intervention, and recovery support services for young people and their families and caregivers.
“SAMHSA understands a person’s substance use disorder often affects their family, and that person’s recovery effort does not occur in a vacuum,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “These two grant programs fund treatment services for people grappling with substance use and provide needed wraparound supports in areas that, if left unaddressed, can impede attempts at recovery.”
The State Pilot Grant Program for Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women (PPW Pilot) is distributing $3.6 million to four grantees in the first year of its three-year award cycle – during which it will award up to $10.8 million total. The funds support family-based services for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders, emphasizing treatment of opioid use disorders; help state substance abuse agencies address the continuum of care, including services provided in nonresidential-based settings; and promote a coordinated, effective, and efficient system by encouraging new approaches and models of service delivery. Funding also covers wraparound/recovery supports that can include childcare and vocational, educational, and transportation services designed to improve access and retention in services. Also funded are family-focused programs to support family strengthening and reunification, including parenting education and evidence-based interventions and social and recreational activities.
The Enhancement and Expansion of Treatment and Recovery Services for Adolescents, Transitional Aged Youth, and their Families Grant Program (Youth and Family Tree) is distributing $9.7 million to 18 grantees. Grants of up to $48.2 million will be awarded over five years. The purpose of this program is to enhance and expand comprehensive treatment, early intervention, and recovery support services for adolescents (ages 12-18) and transitional-aged young people (ages 16-25) who have substance use disorders and/or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders, and their families/primary caregivers. Grantees are required to provide a comprehensive, family-centered, trauma-informed, evidence-based, coordinated, and integrated outpatient system of care that incorporates early intervention and recovery support services. Also included are screening, assessment, treatment, and wraparound services. Grantees must screen clients and their family members/primary caregivers, who are included in treatment planning, for alcohol misuse and illicit drug use and provide education and messaging on making healthy choices. Allowable services include the provision of recovery housing.
“The intent of these family-supportive grant programs is to help the nation’s communities address cycles of substance use that have beset families for generations by meeting people where they are and providing the evidence-based services and supports they need to carry on through the healing process,” said Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon.
Read about the recipients of the PPW Pilot and the Youth and Family Tree grants. People searching for treatment for substance use disorders can find options near them by visiting SAMHSA’s findtreatment.gov or by calling SAMHSA’s 24/7 National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357).