New Grants Help Children with Emotional and Mental Problems

In a press release by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Center for Mental Health Services stated that it is taking applications for Cooperative Agreements from organizations for Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families. The reason for the agreements is to create and grow ideas for caring for children and young people with emotional issues and their families. This is all subject to the funds that will be made available in the 2008 fiscal year.

It is thought that there will be enough funds available for 19 cooperative agreements with a possible total amount of $19 million allocated for use. Community and home based services and supports for children will be supported by the agreements. Youth with serious emotional issues and families of those youth will be helped by inciting the development and growth of much needed and long lasting systems of care. The system of care is a network of community services and support systems for children's mental health that are organized to help with the problems of children with mental health issues.

$1 million for Year 1 is going to be the average amount awarded. At that point it will go up to $1.5 million in Year 2 and $2 million in Years 3 and 4. Not more than $1.5 million can be received in Year 5 and no more than $1 million in Year 6. Matching funds have to be submitted by those organizations that receive the grants, and the matching funds may not come from federal sources during any time. Depending on availability of money, the award amounts may vary. The Center for Mental Health Services for SAMHSA will oversee the cooperative agreements.

Those that can apply are public entities, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and federal territories. Public entities are states, cities, counties, and towns. You may receive and application by calling SAMHSA's Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA7 or applying online at www.grants.gov. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2008.3