The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2023 Planning and Developing Infrastructure to Promote the Mental Health of Children, Youth and Families in American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) Communities (Short Title: Circles of Care) grants. The purpose of this program is to provide tribal and urban Indian communities with tools and resources to plan and design a holistic, evidence and community-based, coordinated system of care to support mental health for children, youth, and families. These grants are intended to increase the capacity and effectiveness of mental health systems serving AI/AN communities. Circles of Care grant recipients will focus on the need to reduce the gap between the need for mental health services and the availability of such services for the target population. The program has a strong emphasis on cross-system collaboration, inclusion of family, youth and community resources, and cultural approaches.
Required Activities:
Circles of Care grant funds must be used primarily to support infrastructure development, including the following types of activities:
- Identify, and convene an advisory group (e.g., board, workgroup, task force) to provide ongoing guidance to project staff to promote active community engagement with the project. The structure may be a new or existing group and should include representation from partner agencies and providers, elected and other tribal officials, and members of the community, including youth and family members.
- Within four months after award, conduct an assessment of community strengths, assets, and needs to guide the development of the system of care approach.
- Within six months after award, develop and implement a plan for a community-based system of care approach for children and youth mental health and wellness services, prevention and treatment of substance use, and supports to be provided in the community, using a variety of ongoing consensus-building activities with continuous feedback from the community. The approach should be holistic, community-based, culturally competent, family-driven, and youth-guided across multiple agencies.
- Conduct network development and collaboration activities with stakeholders, including formalized interagency commitments, for coordination of services.
- Provide orientation and ongoing training on the SAMHSA Systems of Care framework by engaging various sectors of the community, such as schools; colleges and universities, and other educational institutions; faith-based organizations; behavioral health and other health care providers; housing supports; the justice system; local businesses; and public health and healthcare systems, departments, and institutions.
- Develop policies, corresponding funding streams, and other strategies that address how the system of care approach can be implemented and sustained.
$5,492,314 was available in total funding in 2022.
No more than 20 percent of the total grant award for the budget period may be used for data collection, performance measurement, and performance assessment, e.g.