Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Topics on this page: Summary of Activities that Continue | Summary of Contingency Staffing Plan

Summary of Activities that Continue

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will continue substance use and mental health programs vital to the safety and protection of Americans. This includes programs that provide critical behavioral health resources in the event of a natural or human-caused disaster such as Disaster Behavioral Health response teams, the 24/7 365 day-a-year Disaster Distress Helpline that provides crisis counseling to people experiencing emotional distress after a disaster, and the 988/Suicide Lifeline to connect people in crisis with life-saving resources.

SAMHSA will continue activities supported with BSCA advanced appropriations and will also continue previously funded operations and utilize available balances to provide important resources to those seeking help for behavioral health concerns through the Treatment Services Locator program, the Treatment Referral Line, and the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. SAMHSA will have staff ready to receive and properly route any letters indicating suicidal ideation to the appropriate local crisis intervention services. SAMHSA will also continue receiving and responding to Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) regulation exception requests, and emergency situations related to the provision of medications for opioid use disorder. 

Most SAMHSA grants awarded in the prior year will have funds that remain available to be spent by the grantee, including for example the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services program, the State Opioid Response Grant program, and the mental health and substance use block grants. The retained Commissioned Corps Officers (CCO) will assist with maintaining any required grants programs/activities, including grants funded with COVID-19 and BSCA advanced appropriations.

Summary of Contingency Staffing Plan

In the event of a lapse of appropriations, a total of 133 (16%) SAMHSA staff will be retained including 49 (6%) exempt staff (their activities or position are already funded or otherwise exempt) and 84 (10%) who are excepted (their activities are deemed necessary by implication, or for the safety of human life).

Exempt Staff:

The 49 (6%) exempt SAMHSA staff are the one Presidentially-appointed Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse and employees that are funded via BSCA advanced appropriations and carry-over or COVID supplemental funds.

Excepted Staff:

A total of 84 (10%) SAMHSA staff are considered excepted and can legally continue their activities in the absence of appropriations. These staff fall into the following categories: 1) 37 staff performing activities authorized by necessary implication orderly phase-down and suspension of operations. 2) 4 staff involved in the safety of human life or the protection of property. 3) 3 staff involved in activities to protect property, such as physical infrastructure and maintain computer infrastructure or provide cybersecurity. 4) 41 Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officers who will work under this exception.

Excepted SAMHSA staff will continue to perform vital tasks related to imminent threats to human life including ensuring the ongoing operations of the Suicide Prevention Hotline reviewing suicide letters and ensuring they are quickly addressed by Suicide Prevention Centers, and oversight of Opioid Treatment Programs. Additionally, the Commissioned Corps Officers assigned to SAHMSA will continue providing critical behavioral health services in response to disasters. Excepted staff will also support the orderly phase down and suspension of non-funded SAMHSA activities.