Advisory

SAMHSA EXPANDS MATRIX OF PROGRAM PRIORITIES

To meet the evolving needs of the fields of substance abuse and mental health services, Charles Curie, Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), today announced the release of a revised matrix of agency program priorities and cross-cutting management principles.

The new matrix includes suicide prevention and workforce development as major program priority areas for SAMHSA. Disaster readiness and response was moved from program priority to cross-cutting principle because it impacts all of the agency’s operations. The cross-cutting principle on collaboration was modified to include an emphasis on international work, and the principle on reducing stigma was enhanced with a new focus on reducing discrimination.
“Over the past five years, we have worked to align SAMHSA’s resources to create systemic change,” Curie said. “We have invested agency resources in the program priority areas and we have built a record of achievement, including the Access to Recovery, Strategic Prevention Framework, Mental Health System Transformation, and Co-occurring State Incentive Grants programs, among others. The Matrix serves as our guidepost for budget formulation, program development and resource allocation at SAMHSA. It focuses staff and the field on nurturing a few redwoods rather than letting a thousand flowers bloom.”

The priorities identified in the Matrix are the result of discussions with SAMHSA advisory councils, members of congress, people working in the field, researchers, advocacy and constituency groups, family members, and people working to obtain and sustain recovery.

Curie noted, “When faced with the fact that the annual number of suicides in our country now outnumber homicides by three to two, approximately 30,000 and 18,000 respectively – the urgency and immediacy of the need to take action speaks for itself. In the area of workforce, we have little progress to show for all of the talk. Workforce development is no longer just another good idea. It is past time for action.”

SAMHSA’s 12 program priority areas are: co-occurring disorders, substance abuse treatment capacity, seclusion and restraint, strategic prevention framework, children and families, mental health transformation, suicide prevention, homelessness, older adults, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, criminal and juvenile justice and workforce development. Each priority area is assigned an agency lead who is responsible for developing a two year action plan and achieving the steps identified.

The cross cutting management principals include: science to services/evidence-based practices; data for performance measurement and management; collaboration with public, private, and international partners; reducing stigma and discrimination and other barriers to services; cultural competency/eliminating disparities; community and faith-based approaches; addressing trauma and violence; financing strategies and cost-effectiveness; rural and other specific settings; and disaster readiness and response.

Link to the new Matrix on the SAMHSA web site at: http://www.samhsa.gov/Matrix/Matrix_Brochure_2006.pdf.

SAMHSA, is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions, treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service