Advanced Search | Help

Newsroom

Events and Conferences
September 2008
SMTWTFS
123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930


Statistics
SAMHSA News Room
Contact Media Services: (240) 276-2130

SAMHSA News Bulletin

Date: 9/15/2008
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office
Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA Awards $27.5 Million in Project LAUNCH Grants to Promote the Wellbeing of Young Children in Communities Across America

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced that more than $27.5 million in Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) grants funds will be awarded to state and tribal programs over the next five years.  Project LAUNCH is a new grant program designed to promote the wellness of young children ages birth to 8 years of age by addressing the physical, emotional, social, and behavioral aspects of their development.

Project LAUNCH grantees will implement a range of evidence-based public health strategies to support young child wellness.  Participating states and tribes will work to improve coordination among child-serving systems, build infrastructure, and improve methods for providing services.  The majority of the funds will be passed from the state and tribal level to an identified locality where the grant will support the enhancement and integration of services in addition to system coordination and development. 

Local service enhancement efforts will include but not be limited to mental health consultation for childcare and early education providers, developmental assessments in a range of settings, family strengthening programs, parenting skills training and home visitation. 
   
“These Project LAUNCH grants will enhance and coordinate key child-serving systems in communities across the country,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, DDS, MPH.  “By providing young children with supportive and nurturing environments, we can promote healthy development and prevent problems before they occur.”

In order to model the cooperation it requires from grantees, SAMHSA is working in partnership with other agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to guide the development of the initiative and integrate Project LAUNCH with other federal programs.  This partnership includes HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Health Resources and Services Administration.

The programs selected for LAUNCH grants will receive approximately $900,000 each year, over the course of the next five years. The actual award amounts may vary, depending on the availability of funds and the progress achieved by the awardees.  The program will be administered by SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services.

The following is a list of the grant awardees and their projected yearly grant amounts:   

The State of Maine’s Community Caring Collaborative -- $916,000.   The grant will help expand prevention programs for underserved communities in Washington County, including 2,000 Passamaquoddy tribal members. 

Arizona Department of Health Services’ TAPESTRY Project -- $900,946. This grant will build programs to support the immediate and long term well being of children in Phoenix’s South Mountain community.

State of Rhode Island’s RI LAUNCH Program -- $915,922.  This grant will enhance the RI Successful Start Initiative’s existing efforts to build the social-behavioral capacities of young children throughout the Providence, R.I., area.

State of New Mexico’s New Mexico Project LAUNCH -- $916,000.  The State of New Mexico will use the grant to develop a demonstration project to promote the well being of young children in Santa Fe County. 

Washington State Department of Health’s Project LAUNCH Washington -- $916,000.  Grant monies will be directed toward expanding child wellness services in Yakima County, building on existing family service, healthcare and legal service systems.

Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewas’ Red Cliff Project LAUNCH -- $915,200. This project will build a supportive, family-driven system of child services by blending traditional tribal values and evidenced-based practices.

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.


Page Last Updated: 9/15/2008