FY 2009 RFA Grant Application Information (RFA)

Application Information Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)

Request for Applications (RFA)

 Supplements to State Mental Health Data Infrastructure Grants for Quality Improvement

(Initial Announcement)

The due date for applications has been extended from May 2, 2009 to May 12, 2009

 

Request for Applications (RFA) No. SM-09-018
Posting on Grants.gov: March 25, 2009
Original Receipt date: May 2, 2009
Revised Receipt date: May 12, 2009
Announcement Type: Initial

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

Key Dates:

Application Deadline

Applications are due by May 2, 2009

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 (SAMHSA) announces the availability of funds to expand/enhance grant activities funded under the State Mental Health Data Infrastructure Grants for Quality Improvement.  The purpose of this program supplement is to support mental health prevalence estimation and associations found in State populations.  The effort is part of the SAMHSA/CDC Intra-Agency Agreement in which this year, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) module will be added to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in selected states. 

This DIG supplement effort builds on an Intra-agency Agreement between SAMHSA and the Centers for Disease Control which supports prevalence estimation of mental health status in State populations in the annual implementation of the BRFSS.  The PHQ-8 is a standardized and validated module which has been used in both clinical and population based settings.  In addition to questions on current depressive symptoms, questions on lifetime diagnosis of depression and lifetime diagnoses of anxiety are included in the module.  Expected outcomes of the findings can inform as to estimates in the population in selected states in regard to depression, lifetime diagnoses and other associations. The supplement will support 1) State mental health agency coordination with respective State public health agency contacts who implement the BRFSS, 2) provision of State data analyses, including prevalence estimates of depression and anxiety, associations to socio-demographics characteristics and other factors, including behavioral risk factors and chronic disease, and 3) dissemination of findings to State leaders and stakeholders to inform planning.  As there has been previous implementation of the module in this program since 2006, trend analyses can also inform as to changes over a five year period.

The Mental Health Data Infrastructure Grant presently includes State prevalence estimates and need for mental health services as a goal within the Uniform Reporting System data collection effort.  This supplement will provide much needed information on prevalence estimates that can assist the States in areas of health and mental health integration efforts.  Information related to health and behavioral risk factors for these populations can provide knowledge for increased understanding and improved program development.  SAMHSA goals are addressed in Goal 1 of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health which supports bridging the gap between health and mental health in service planning and care.    
At a minimum, the funds awarded will be used to conduct the following activities:

  • Coordination and collaboration with the Public Health Agency to enhance understanding of State mental health needs.
  • Communication with the State Public Health Agency on selected mental health data analyses that can assist the State in increased knowledge and program development.
  • Provision of a data analyses report that may include prevalence estimation of depression, lifetime diagnoses, socio-demographic characteristics, associated behavioral risk factors and health conditions, and other measures identified in the survey.  If possible, regional analyses and trend analyses is desirable.
  • Presentation of prevalence findings to key State leaders and stakeholders for assessment and planning.

State Mental Health Data Infrastructure Grants for Quality Improvement are authorized under 1971 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.  This announcement addresses Healthy People 2010 focus area 18 (Mental Health and Mental Disorders).

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must be recipients of a SAMHSA Mental Health Data Infrastructure Grants for Quality Improvement who are concurrently funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement the PHQ-8 module through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS).  These States are eligible to receive a DIG supplement and will be required to coordinate with their respective State BRFSS coordinator and provide additional data analyses and data dissemination.   A State is also eligible if it implements the PHQ-8 module within the BRFSS solely with State funds. States are uniquely qualified to apply for this supplement because States collect mental health data.  It is within their purview to pursue mental health surveillance so States understand their residents’ needs for mental health services.  States have operational authority over mental health divisions and/or have the existing infrastructure to undertake these activities.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism:

Grant
Anticipated Total Available Funding: $200,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 16
Anticipated Award Amount:

Up to $12,500 per year

It is expected that up to $200,000 will be available to fund up to 16 states in FY 2009.  Awards are expected to be up to $12,500 per year in total costs (direct and indirect).

Proposed budgets cannot exceed the allowable amount in any year of the supplement.  

Contact Information

For questions on program issues, contact:

Olinda Gonzalez, Ph.D.
SAMHSA/CMHS/DSCSD
1 Choke Cherry Rd
Rockville, MD 20857
Tel. 240-276-1762
olinda.gonzalez@samhsa.hhs.gov

For questions on grants management issues, contact:

Gwendolyn Simpson
Office of Program Services, 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:

Applications that are not submitted on the required application form will be screened out and will not be reviewed.

You must respond to the requirements in the RFA in preparing your application.

PHS 5161-1 (revised July 2000): Includes the face page, budget forms and checklist. Applications that are not submitted on the required application form will be screened out and will not be reviewed.

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: 03/27/2009