FY 2012 Grant Request for Applications (RFA)

Statewide Consumer Network Grant

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Request for Applications (RFA) No. : SM-12-002
Posting on Grants.gov: April 9, 2012
Original Receipt date: May 18, 2012

Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No. : 93.243

Key Dates

Application Deadline Applications are due by May 18, 2012
Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372) Applicants must comply with E.O. 12372 if their State(s) participates. Review process recommendations from the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.
Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS) / Single State Agency Coordination Applicants must send the PHSIS to appropriate State and local health agencies by application deadline. Comments from Single State Agency are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2012 Statewide Consumer Network grants. The purpose of this program is to enhance statewide consumer-run organizations to promote service system capacity and infrastructure development that is recovery-focused and resiliency-oriented. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, this program seeks to address the needs of underserved and under-represented consumers, such as veterans; those with histories of trauma; those from ethnic, racial, or cultural minority groups; and those who have been involved in the criminal justice system.

The Statewide Consumer Network program also seeks to promote activities related to partnership development with peers in recovery from addictions; peer support, and service needs related to gender; training and skills development; trauma-informed peer support; legacy planning; wellness; and/or economic empowerment as part of the recovery process for consumers. Background Information for the Consumer Network Program is available in Appendix J of this RFA.

SAMHSA has demonstrated that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral health services improve health status and reduce health care and other costs to society. Continued improvement in the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services provides a cost effective opportunity to advance and protect the Nation’s health. To continue to improve the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services, SAMHSA has identified eight Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The Statewide Consumer program closely aligns with SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Strategic Initiative. This initiative supports the goal of recovery through the support of following domains:

  • Health: Overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) as well as living in a physically and emotionally healthy way;
  • Home: A stable and safe place to live that supports recovery;
  • Purpose: Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income, and resources to participate in society; and
  • Community: Relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.

As part of the support for the Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, SAMHSA funded the Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS-TACS) to promote the widespread adoption of recovery concepts and practices throughout the United States. The BRSS-TACS will help facilitate the dissemination of information among consumers, family and youth about health care reform initiated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010.

Statewide Consumer Network grants are authorized under 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.

Eligibility

SAMHSA is limiting eligibility for this program to consumer-controlled , domestic public and private nonprofit entities, tribal and urban Indian organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations. A primary goal of the program is to strengthen the capacity of consumers to act as agents of transformation in influencing the type and amount of services, so they must be an integral part of an organization that supports individuals with a serious mental illness and ensures that their mental health care is consumer driven with access to recovery support services. Therefore, only organizations controlled and managed by mental health consumers are eligible to apply.

Consumer-controlled organizations must meet the following requirements:

  • An applicant organization must be dedicated to the improvement of mental health services Statewide.
  • An applicant organization must complete the Certificate of Eligibility (see Appendix L of the RFA) indicating that the applicant meets all eligibility requirements. Applicants must also provide necessary supportive documentation specified in the Certificate of Eligibility.

In an effort to strengthen new networks and broaden the impact of this program throughout the nation, SAMHSA is limiting one award per State, Territory and Tribe.

Statewide Consumer Network Grantees whose funding ends in FY 2013 are not eligible to apply under this funding announcement.

The statutory authority for this program prohibits grants to for-profit agencies.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Grant
Anticipated Total Available Funding: $770,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 11
Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $70,000 per year
Length of Project Period: Up to 3 years

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $70,000 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.

Contact Information

For questions about program issues contact:

Mary Blake
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Room 6-1020
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(240) 276-1747
Mary.blake@samhsa.hhs.gov

For questions on grants management and budget issues contact:

Gwendolyn Simpson
Office of Financial Resources, Division of Grants Management
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Room 7-1085
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(240) 276-1408
gwendolyn.simpson@samhsa.hhs.gov

Documents Needed to Complete a Grant Application

1. REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

YOU MUST RESPOND TO THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE RFA IN PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION.

2. GRANT APPLICATION PACKAGE

YOU MUST USE THE FORMS IN THE APPLICATION PACKAGE TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION.

Additional Materials

For further information on the forms and the application process, see Useful Information for Applicants.

Additional materials available on this website include:

Last updated: 4/9/2012