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Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.
Program Accomplishments
Fifty-nine grants were awarded in fiscal year 2007. It is anticipated that 59 CMHS block grants will be issued in fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds may be used at the discretion of the State to achieve the described objectives except for certain requirements.
State plans must meet prescribed criteria.
Services under the plan will be provided only through appropriate, qualified community programs (which may include community mental health centers, child mental-health programs, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, mental health peer-support programs and mental-health primary consumer- directed programs).
Services under the plan will be provided through community mental health centers only if the centers meet prescribed criteria.
Up to 5 percent of grant funds may be used for administering the funds.
Funds may not be used to provide inpatient services; to make cash payments to intended recipients of health services; to purchase or improve land, purchase, construct, or permanently improve (other than minor remodeling) any building or other facility, or purchase major medical equipment; to satisfy any requirement for the expenditure of nonfederal funds as a condition for the receipt of Federal funds; or to provide financial assistance to any entity other than a public or nonprofit private entity.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State and U.S.
Territory Governments; or Tribal Organizations.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Recipients of State and U.S. Territory Governments; and members of Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Chief Executive Officer of the State or Territory must apply annually for an allotment. States are required to submit an application which contains a State Plan that describes comprehensive community mental health services for adults with a serious mental illness and children with a serious emotional disturbance, an Implementation Report that describes State progress in implementing the plan for the preceding year, recommendations from the State Mental Health Planning Council, a report on expenditure of the preceding fiscal year's block grant funds, a maintenance of effort report and agreements signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the State.
Award Procedures
Grant Awards are issued directly by The Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to the designated State agency.
Deadlines
The application is due no later than September 1 of the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year for which CMHS Block Grant funding is being requested.
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Title XIX, Part B, Subpart I, as amended, Public Law 106-310; 42 U.S.C. 300X.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not applicable.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Formula is cited in Section 1918 of Public Law 106-310. Allotments to States are based upon certain weighted population factors and total taxable resources except that no State will receive less than 20.6 percent of the amount the State received from allotments made in fiscal year 1992 under the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health (ADMS) Block Grant. Territorial allotments are based upon the relative civilian population of the Territory except that no Territory is to receive less than $50,000. This program has no matching requirements, but does have maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Each allotment is available for obligation and expenditure during the fiscal year in which it was allotted through the end of the subsequent fiscal year.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
As part of the application, each State must submit an Implementation Report that describes the State's progress in implementing the State's Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Plan for the preceding fiscal year and a report of the purposes for which the grant received for the preceding fiscal year were expended, including a description of the activities of the State under the program and the recipients of the funds.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, 45 CFR 74.26 requires that for-profit recipients and subrecipients have an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards or OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records
Each State must maintain records which are consistent with their State laws and requirements.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-1362-0-1-550.
Obigations
FY 07 $406,843,470; FY 08 est $406,843,470; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$50,000 to $55,061,465; $6,895,652.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
45 CFR Part 96.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Program Contact: Dr. Joyce Berry, State Planning and System Development Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Room, 2-1093, Rockville, Maryland 20857. Telephone: (240) 276-1736. Grants Management Contact: LouEllen M. Rice, Grants Management Officer, Division of Grants Management, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 7-1091, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, Maryland 20857. Telephone: (240) 276-1404.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Applications must fulfill statutory and regulatory requirements. For information regarding statutory and regulatory requirements, contact Dr. Joyce Berry, State Planning and Systems Development Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA, PHS, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 2-1093 Rockville, MD 20850. Telephone: (240) 276-1736.
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