The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released an opportunity titled, “Cooperative Agreements for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances.” SAMHSA will award between five and 15 cooperative agreements to state governments or political subdivisions of states that successfully propose extensive operation, expansion, and integration of the System of Care approach, which seeks to build a community-based infrastructure of partnerships so that families can receive the integrated services they need.  Applicants are required to propose the creation of reliable, long-term infrastructure and services as required by part of the Children’s Mental Health Initiative.

Specifically, funds will support mental health and related recovery support services to children, from birth to 21, who exhibit early signs and symptoms of serious mental illness or are living with serious emotional disturbance. State applicants may request up to $3 million per year for the four-year project period, with political subdivisions of states being capped at $1 million per year. Applications are due January 3, 2017.