Opportunity Information: Apply for SM 16 011
Apply for SM 16 011
- The HHS-SAMHS in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assisted Outpatient Treatment Grant Program for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness, (Short Title: Assisted Outpatient Treatment [AOT])" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.997.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 18, 2016 and posted on Apr 18, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 16, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Assisted Outpatient Treatment Grant Program for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness (AOT) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. It was released for FY 2016 as a four-year pilot initiative meant to help communities start and rigorously evaluate new Assisted Outpatient Treatment programs for people living with serious mental illness (SMI). The central idea is to support a structured, court-involved outpatient treatment approach that helps eligible individuals receive medically appropriate care while remaining in the community rather than cycling through hospitals, homelessness, or incarceration. The program focuses on improving both health and social outcomes while reducing costly and harmful system involvement, including repeated psychiatric hospitalization, interactions with law enforcement, and criminal justice system contact.
AOT, as described in this funding announcement, refers to medically prescribed mental health treatment delivered to a person living in the community under the terms of a state or local law that allows a court to order outpatient treatment. In practice, AOT can also be known as involuntary outpatient commitment, conditional release, or similar terms depending on the jurisdiction. The model generally involves petitioning a local court so that an eligible individual can be ordered to participate in and remain engaged with outpatient services for a specified period of time. The intent is not to shift care into a punitive framework, but to create a formal mechanism that supports treatment adherence, continuity of care, and safety while keeping the person in their home community. A key emphasis in the announcement is coordination with families and courts, reflecting how AOT typically relies on collaboration among behavioral health providers, legal stakeholders, and natural supports.
This grant program was established by federal law through Section 224 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA), enacted on April 1, 2014. SAMHSA also notes that it consulted with several federal partners in shaping the funding opportunity, including the National Institute of Mental Health, the Department of Justice, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and the Administration for Community Living. The program also aligns with SAMHSA strategic priorities, especially work related to Trauma and Justice and Recovery Support, and it is framed as contributing to Healthy People 2020 priorities in the Mental Health and Mental Disorders topic area as well as the Substance Abuse topic area.
A major eligibility restriction is that awards are only available to applicants that have not previously implemented an AOT program. In other words, having an AOT law on the books is not enough to disqualify an applicant; what matters is whether the applicant has actually put AOT into full operation through the courts within the jurisdiction where they propose to work. This requirement is meant to keep the funding focused on new implementation sites rather than expanding long-standing AOT programs. At the same time, SAMHSA limits awards to jurisdictions that already have a sufficient service infrastructure for people with SMI. Examples listed in the announcement include Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), mobile crisis teams, supportive housing, supported employment, peer supports, case management, outpatient psychotherapy, medication management, and trauma-informed care. The expectation is that AOT is only ethical and effective when the court order is paired with real access to high-quality, community-based services. While applicants must already have a strong service array, the announcement allows for a portion of the grant funds to be used to enhance or strengthen that service continuum.
Because this is categorized as a SAMHSA services grant, the emphasis is on moving quickly from award to real-world service delivery. SAMHSA states that funded programs should begin delivering services as soon as possible, and no later than the fourth month of the project period. This reflects an implementation-and-results orientation: the program is not just about planning or policy development, but about launching operational AOT pathways (including court processes and treatment coordination) and simultaneously evaluating outcomes to identify evidence-based practices that can be replicated elsewhere.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number SM-16-011 under CFDA 93.997. The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000, with an expectation of 15 awards. The opportunity was posted on April 18, 2016, with an application closing date of June 16, 2016. Overall, the grant is structured to help new jurisdictions build the partnerships, court procedures, clinical workflows, and evaluation capacity needed to run an AOT program that can demonstrably reduce avoidable institutionalization and justice involvement while improving stability and recovery-oriented outcomes for people living with serious mental illness.
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Grant Program (FY 2016) - FAQs
1) What is the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Grant Program for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI)?
The Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. For FY 2016, it was released as a four-year pilot initiative intended to help communities start and rigorously evaluate new AOT programs serving people living with serious mental illness (SMI).
2) What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose is to support communities in launching structured, court-involved outpatient treatment approaches that help eligible individuals receive medically appropriate care while remaining in the community. The program is designed to improve health and social outcomes and reduce repeated psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, law enforcement interaction, and criminal justice system involvement.
3) What does "Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)" mean in this announcement?
In this funding announcement, AOT refers to medically prescribed mental health treatment delivered to a person living in the community under the terms of a state or local law that allows a court to order outpatient treatment.
4) Are there other names for AOT?
Yes. Depending on the jurisdiction, AOT may also be referred to as involuntary outpatient commitment, conditional release, or similar terms.
5) How does AOT generally work in practice?
The general model involves petitioning a local court so that an eligible individual can be ordered to participate in and remain engaged with outpatient services for a specified period of time. The intent described in the announcement is to support treatment adherence, continuity of care, and safety while keeping the person in their home community.
6) Is this grant meant to create a punitive, criminal-justice style approach to care?
No. The announcement emphasizes that the intent is not to shift care into a punitive framework. Instead, it describes AOT as a formal mechanism that supports treatment adherence and continuity of care while keeping people in the community.
7) What outcomes is the program trying to improve?
The program focuses on improving both health and social outcomes, while reducing costly and harmful system involvement. Examples listed include reducing repeated psychiatric hospitalization, interactions with law enforcement, and contact with the criminal justice system, along with reducing cycling through hospitals, homelessness, or incarceration.
8) What is a major eligibility restriction for applicants?
A major restriction is that awards are only available to applicants that have not previously implemented an AOT program. The funding is intended for new implementation sites rather than expanding long-standing AOT programs.
9) If a jurisdiction has an AOT law on the books, does that automatically make it ineligible?
No. The announcement indicates that having an AOT law is not enough to disqualify an applicant. The key question is whether AOT has actually been put into full operation through the courts within the jurisdiction where the applicant proposes to work.
10) Do applicants need to already have mental health services in place to be eligible?
Yes. SAMHSA limits awards to jurisdictions that already have sufficient service infrastructure for people with serious mental illness. The announcement conveys that AOT is only ethical and effective when a court order is paired with real access to high-quality, community-based services.
11) What types of service infrastructure does SAMHSA expect applicants to have?
Examples listed in the announcement include Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), mobile crisis teams, supportive housing, supported employment, peer supports, case management, outpatient psychotherapy, medication management, and trauma-informed care.
12) Can grant funds be used to strengthen the existing service continuum?
Yes. While applicants must already have a strong service array, the announcement allows for a portion of grant funds to be used to enhance or strengthen the service continuum.
13) What is the focus of the grant: planning, or service delivery?
This is categorized as a SAMHSA services grant, which emphasizes moving quickly from award to real-world service delivery. The opportunity is framed as implementation-and-results oriented, rather than being solely about planning or policy development.
14) How quickly are funded programs expected to begin delivering services?
SAMHSA states that funded programs should begin delivering services as soon as possible, and no later than the fourth month of the project period.
15) Does the program require evaluation of outcomes?
Yes. The FY 2016 opportunity is described as a pilot initiative meant to help communities start and rigorously evaluate new AOT programs, with the goal of identifying evidence-based practices that can be replicated elsewhere.
16) What kinds of partnerships and coordination does the announcement emphasize?
The announcement places emphasis on coordination with families and courts. It describes AOT as typically relying on collaboration among behavioral health providers, legal stakeholders, and natural supports.
17) What federal law established this grant program?
The program was established through Section 224 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA), enacted on April 1, 2014.
18) Did SAMHSA consult with other federal partners in shaping the opportunity?
Yes. SAMHSA notes consultation with several federal partners, including the National Institute of Mental Health, the Department of Justice, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and the Administration for Community Living.
19) How does this opportunity align with broader federal priorities?
The announcement states that the program aligns with SAMHSA strategic priorities, particularly Trauma and Justice and Recovery Support. It is also framed as contributing to Healthy People 2020 priorities in the Mental Health and Mental Disorders topic area as well as the Substance Abuse topic area.
20) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number for this grant?
The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number SM-16-011 under CFDA 93.997.
21) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the announcement is $1,000,000.
22) How many awards were expected under this opportunity?
The announcement indicates an expectation of 15 awards.
23) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on April 18, 2016, and the application closing date was June 16, 2016.
24) What is the overall goal for jurisdictions funded under this program?
The overall goal is to help new jurisdictions build the partnerships, court procedures, clinical workflows, and evaluation capacity needed to operate an AOT program that reduces avoidable institutionalization and justice involvement while improving stability and recovery-oriented outcomes for people living with serious mental illness.
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