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FY 2006 Budget in BriefSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationOn this page:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration builds resilience and facilitates recovery for people with or at risk for substance abuse and mental illness. The FY 2006 budget requests $3.3 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a net decrease of $56 million from FY 2005. The request seeks to expand substance abuse clinical and recovery support services through the President's Access to Recovery State Voucher Program, continue to focus on achieving mental health systems transformation with the State Incentive Grants for Transformation, and support State implementation of the Strategic Prevention Framework to prevent young people from initiating drug use. Resources are also provided for Federal and State level drug and mental health data collection activities. Substance AbuseAn estimated 7.3 million Americans struggle with a serious drug problem for which treatment is needed. Drug abuse has a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities. Every day substance use leads to lost productivity, the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, domestic violence, child abuse, criminal involvement, and premature and preventable deaths. The FY 2006 request supports efforts to provide effective substance abuse treatment and to stop drug use before it occurs. The budget includes $2.4 billion, a net increase of $10 million for effective substance abuse treatment and prevention activities. Access to RecoveryFourteen States and one Tribal organization were awarded Access to Recovery funding in FY 2004, the first year of funding for this Presidential Initiative. The funded entities have identified target populations that include youth, individuals involved with the criminal justice system, women, individuals with co-occurring disorders, and homeless individuals. Access to Recovery Principles:
Opening New Pathways to Recovery: Effective substance treatment has been shown to reduce an individual's illegal drug use by nearly half and criminal activity by 80 percent. Treatment also increases employment and decreases homelessness; results in improved physical and mental health; and reduces risky sexual behaviors. The FY 2006 budget proposes a 50 percent increase for the President's Access to Recovery State Voucher program for a total funding level of $150 million. Access to Recovery allows individuals seeking clinical treatment and recovery support services to exercise choice among qualified community provider organizations, including those that are faith-based. This program recognizes that there are many pathways of recovery from addiction. Through Access to Recovery, individuals are assessed, given a voucher for appropriate services, and provided with a list of service providers from which they can choose. The proposed FY 2006 increase will expand this innovative program to an additional seven States, for a total of 22 States participating. These States will have flexibility to design an approach to focus on areas of greatest need. The request also includes $31 million for the Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment program. Through this program, States are able to expand the continuum of care to include services for non-dependent drug users. In FY 2006, SAMHSA plans to fund an additional two States, for a total of nine. Promoting Effective Prevention: National survey data confirm a 17 percent decrease in teenage drug use over the past three years, resulting in 600,000 fewer youth using illicit drugs. This decrease represents the lowest levels of teen drug use since the peak levels in the 1990s and holds promise for the future as most addicted adults begin using drugs at a young age. The FY 2006 request continues efforts to achieve the President's goal of reducing illicit drug use. The request prioritizes programs that build capacity for comprehensive prevention services. Of the $184 million for Prevention, $93 million will enhance efforts to implement the Strategic Prevention Framework. The Strategic Prevention Framework is a five-step process to promote youth development, reduce risk-taking behaviors, build on assets, and prevent problem behaviors. The five steps are: (1) conduct needs assessments; (2) build State and local capacity; (3) develop a comprehensive strategic plan; (4) implement evidence-based prevention policies, programs, and practices; and (5) monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, sustaining what has worked well. SAMHSA awarded its first Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grants in FY 2004 to a total of 21 States and Territories. A recent Program Assessment Rating Tool review identified SAMHSA's competitive prevention grant program as making a unique contribution by focusing on regional and emerging problems. It also found that funds were effectively targeted to activities with the best opportunity to succeed in the areas of greatest need. Substance Abuse Block Grant: A total of $1.8 billion is requested for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant, the same level as FY 2005. The SAPT Block Grant provides funding to over 10,500 community-based organizations and is the cornerstone of States' substance abuse financing, accounting for at least 40 percent of public funds expended for prevention and treatment. Mental HealthThe budget includes $837 million for mental health services, a net decrease of $64 million from FY 2005. The request prioritizes Mental Health Transformation activities, consistent with the recommendations of the President's Commission on Mental Health, through funding for SAMHSA's competitive State Incentive Grants for Transformation and the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant. For all other discretionary grant activities, funding is provided to cover all continuation grants. Transforming the Mental Health System: The final report of the President's Commission on Mental Health, which was released in 2003, called for a fundamental overhaul of how mental health care is delivered in America - to achieve the promise of recovery for families and children. The FY 2006 budget proposes $26 million for State Incentive Grants for Transformation, an increase of $6 million over FY 2005. These infrastructure grants will provide support for developing comprehensive State mental health plans to reduce system fragmentation, and increase services and supports available to people living with mental illness. SAMHSA will award 8 State Incentive Grants for Transformation in FY 2005 and 3 new grants in FY 2006, for a total of 11. New grantees will engage in State planning and coordination activities, with involvement from agencies, such as criminal justice, housing, child welfare, labor and education. In the second year of funding, States will be able to use 85 percent of funds to support programs at the community level as proposed in their State Plan. The remaining 15 percent will continue to support planning activities. In addition, the FY 2006 budget maintains funding for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant. The Block Grant is an important component of SAMHSA's transformation efforts, as it is the only Federal program that provides funds to every State to provide services and improve the public mental health system. The Block Grant also gives States a flexible source of services funding to initiate transformation activities on a state-wide basis. Suicide Prevention: Suicide is currently the 11th leading cause of death among all age groups, taking the lives of approximately 30,000 Americans each year. It is the third leading cause of death for adolescents. Studies of youth who have committed suicide have found that 90 percent had a diagnosable mental disorder at the time of their death. In FY 2006, SAMHSA will continue its efforts to prevent youth suicide. The request continues the activities authorized under the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act that were funded in FY 2005. It supports state-wide youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies in schools, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse and mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support organizations. The request also provides funding for institutions of higher education to enhance services for students with mental and behavioral health problems through educational seminars, hotlines, informational materials, and training programs. SAMHSA will also provide funding for a national cross-site evaluation and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, which in FY 2005 placed a more detailed emphasis on adolescent suicide. Other Mental Health: The budget maintains funding for community-based systems of care for children and youth, State grants providing outreach and services for homeless individuals through Projects for the Assistance for Transition from Homelessness, and protection and advocacy activities. It also provides resources to increase access to mental health services to some of our most vulnerable citizens including individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders, older Americans, and traumatized children. Program ManagementThe budget includes $92 million to maintain staff, and related program management, and to support activities necessary to effectively administer a wide array of Federal programs. SAMHSA has improved the efficiency of its grant programs through contract consolidations and streamlined grant announcements. |
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Last revised: March 29, 2005
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