FY 2012 Grant Request for Applications (RFA)

PPHF - 2012 - Cooperative Agreement for Networking, Certifying, and Training Suicide Prevention Hotlines (PPHF-2012) Life
Short Title: The Lifeline

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Request for Applications (RFA) No.: SM-12-004
Posting on Grants.gov: April 20, 2012
Original Receipt date: May 25, 2012

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

Key Dates

Application Deadline Applications are due by May 25, 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 for a Cooperative Agreement for Networking, Certifying, and Training Suicide Prevention Hotlines. The purpose of this program is to manage, enhance, and strengthen the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (referred to as the Lifeline), SAMHSA’s system of toll-free telephone numbers that routes calls from anywhere in the United States to a network of certified local crisis centers that can link callers to local emergency, mental health, and social service resources. The technology permits calls to be directed immediately to a suicide prevention worker who is geographically closest to the caller.

This initiative is expected to increase and improve public access to crisis intervention services and to promote a consistent and evidence-informed approach to crisis hotline, chat, and text services throughout the network. Priorities and awareness raising activities will also be directed towards ensuring that the prevention needs of diverse populations, including but not limited to, the needs of high-risk populations identified by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention; lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) youth, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), military family members and veterans are addressed.

The Lifeline is a 24-hour, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Callers from anywhere in the United States can call a single toll-free number to be routed to the closest crisis center within the Lifeline’s network of more than 150 certified local crisis centers that can link callers to local emergency, mental health, and social service resources.  Since its launch in 2005, the Lifeline has grown to more than 150 centers, answered more than 3 million calls, facilitated timely and ongoing communication with existing networked centers, developed suicide risk assessment standards and guidelines for helping callers at imminent risk of suicide, and maintained a strong social media presence to increase awareness about suicide prevention resources and recognition of warning signs.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has also partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs since 2007 to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to callers who are veterans or active duty military, as well as their families are addressed.

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 Networking, Certifying, and Training Suicide Prevention Hotlines aligns with SAMHSA”s Strategic Initiative 1: Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Strategic Initiative, Goal 1.3: Prevent suicides and attempted suicides among populations at high risk, especially military families, youth, and American Indians and Alaska Natives; Objective 1.3.2: Increase public knowledge of the warning signs for suicide and actions to take in response; Objective 1.3.3: Increase the use and effectiveness of the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline/Lifeline.

The Cooperative Agreement for Networking, Certifying and Training of Suicide Prevention Hotlines grant is authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-28. This cooperative agreement is financed in part by 2012 Prevention and Public Health Funds (PPHF-2012).

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are domestic public and private nonprofit entities. For example:

  • State and local governments
  • Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes and tribal organizations
  • Urban Indian organizations
  • Public or private universities and colleges
  • Community- and faith-based organizations

Tribal organization means the recognized body of any AI/AN Tribe; any legally established organization of American Indians/Alaska Natives 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 American Indians/Alaska Natives in all phases of its activities. Consortia of Tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply, but each participating entity must indicate its approval.

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

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Grant
Anticipated Total Available Funding: $3.7 million
Anticipated Number of Awards: 1
Anticipated Award Amount: N/A
Length of Project Period: Up to 3 years

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $3.7 million 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.

These awards will be made as cooperative agreements.

Contact Information

For questions about program issues contact

James Wright, MS, LCPC
Suicide Prevention Branch, Division of Prevention, Traumatic Stress and Special Programs
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road Room
Room 6-1052
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(240) 276-1854
james.wright@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: 04/19/2012