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FY 2005 Budget in BriefSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationOn this page:
The FY 2005 budget requests $3.6 billion for SAMHSA, a net increase of $199 million, or 6 percent, over FY 2004. The request continues the President’s commitment to reduce current illicit drug use by doubling the Access to Recovery State Voucher program initiated in FY 2004. The budget includes the implementation of the new substance abuse Strategic Prevention Framework, a new initiative to transform the mental health system in response to the recommendations of the President’s Commission on Mental Health, and increases funding for services targeted towards homeless individuals. Resources are also provided to enhance Federal and State level drug and mental health data collection activities. Substance Abuse In February 2002, the President set aggressive goals to reduce youth drug use by 10 percent in two years and 25 percent in five years. National survey data confirm that the President’s two-year goal has been exceeded. Current use of any illicit drug among students declined 11 percent between 2001 and 2003, resulting in 400,000 fewer teen drug users. However, with this decrease in drug use, there continues to be an unmet need for treatment services. In 2002, 88,000 individuals recognized they needed treatment, but were unable to attain it. The request continues to expand clinical treatment and recovery support services to people with drug and alcohol problems. It includes $2.5 billion, a net increase of $148 million, or 6 percent, for substance abuse treatment and prevention activities. Expanding Access to Treatment: The FY 2005 budget represents the fourth year of the President’s commitment to expand drug treatment and recovery support services over five years. The request proposes to double funding for the Access to Recovery State Voucher program for a total funding level of $200 million. The initiative would allow individuals seeking clinical treatment and recovery support services to exercise choice among qualified community provider organizations, including those that are faith-based. The program’s emphasis is on results – measured by outcomes including decreased or no substance use, no involvement with the criminal justice system, attainment of employment or enrollment in school, family and living conditions, social support, access/capacity, and retention in services. Approximately 100,000 people will receive services through this program in FY 2005. Promoting Effective Prevention: Current research shows that science–based substance abuse prevention is effective not only in preventing youth from initiating substance use in the first place, but also in reducing the number of addicted individuals. This budget includes $196 million to implement SAMHSA’s new Strategic Prevention Framework. The Strategic Prevention Framework’s objectives are to promote the use of performance measures and evaluation tools by substance abuse prevention providers; to increase substance abuse prevention programming throughout the United States, and to support the implementation of effective prevention programs in States and communities. Through the Strategic Prevention Framework, SAMHSA builds capacity within States and the prevention field to promote resiliency and decrease risk factors in individuals, families, and communities. The budget will focus on efforts to enhance implementation of effective programs at the community level, with an emphasis on the prevention of underage drinking. Substance Abuse Block Grant: A total of $1.8 billion is requested for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant, an increase of $53 million over FY 2004. The SAPT Block Grant provides treatment services to over 425,000 individuals and supports over 10,500 community-based organizations. It is the cornerstone of States’ substance abuse financing, accounting for at least 40 percent of public funds expended for prevention and treatment. A recent Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) identified the SAPT Block Grant as the only Federal program that provides funds to every State to support State-wide substance abuse treatment and prevention services, noting that the program has adopted new long-term outcome measures and annual outcome and output measures. SAMHSA is undergoing a transition from Block Grants to Performance Partnerships, in which all States will be required to provide outcome information that can be aggregated to monitor program performance. The same performance measures that are to be used in Access to Recovery will be adopted for Performance Partnerships. Mental Health The budget includes $913 million for mental health services, a net increase of $51 million over FY 2004. The request provides resources for a new initiative to respond to the recommendations of the President’s Commission on Mental Health and increases access to mental health services to some of our most vulnerable citizens. Transforming the Mental Health System: In July 2003, the President’s Commission on Mental Health released its final report, calling for a fundamental overhaul of how mental health care is delivered in America – to achieve the promise of recovery for families and children. SAMHSA has the lead role for HHS in developing an action agenda to incorporate the Report’s recommendations into service delivery improvements. As an important step in reshaping this delivery system, the budget proposes $44 million for State Incentive Grants for Transformation. These new grants will support the development of comprehensive State mental health plans to reduce system fragmentation, and increase services and supports available to people living with mental illness. In the first year, States will establish a planning dialogue across multiple service systems and agencies, such as criminal justice, housing, child welfare, labor and education. In subsequent years, 85 percent of funds may be used to support programs at the community level as proposed in the State Plan. The remaining 15 percent will continue to support State planning and coordination activities. Homeless Services: Recent studies have found that 20 percent of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness also have a serious mental illness. The request includes $10 million for the HHS contribution for the Samaritan initiative, an Administration-wide initiative to reduce chronic homelessness jointly administered with the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs. This initiative will support service providers that better enable access to the full range of services that chronically homeless people need including housing, outreach and support services such as mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and primary health care. Priority will be given to grantees who initiate activities to expand access to mainstream Federal programs for those who experience chronic homelessness. The request also includes $55 million for the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), a $5 million increase over FY 2004. These funds will allow grantees to reach out to 154,000 homeless individuals, getting them off the streets and into mental health and substance abuse treatment services, as well as adequate housing. Other Mental Health: The budget also supports assistance to States in developing programs for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders, and continues to support efforts with other Federal partners on youth violence. A total of $436 million is requested for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant to support comprehensive community services to approximately 220,000 adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. A recent PART review determined that the Mental Health Block Grant is the only Federal program that provides funds to every State to provide State-wide community-based mental health services. The program has adopted new long-term outcome measures to advance strategic planning and will be converting to Performance Partnerships in FY 2005. This transition from Block Grants to Performance Partnerships will require States to collect and report performance data to better measure program effectiveness. Program Management The budget includes $92 million to maintain staff, and related program management and support activities necessary to effectively administer a wide array of Federal programs. As part of the President’s Management Agenda, SAMHSA has implemented changes in its grant announcements, creating process efficiencies within the Agency and leading to increased clarity for applicants. Under the new process, four standard grant announcements have been created based on common elements such as purpose, standard of evidence base, award size, eligibility, allowable activities, and review criteria. Each of the grant announcements include standard performance measures, ensuring increased accountability Agency-wide. |
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Last revised: March 1, 2004
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