Opportunity Information: Apply for SM 15 009
Apply for SM 15 009
- The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Adminis. in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreements for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.104 Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (SED).
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 25, 2015 and posted on Feb 9, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 10, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $45,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 45 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligibility for this program is statutorily limited to public entities such as State governments Indian or tribal organizations (as defined in Section 4b and Section 4c of the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act) Governmental units within political subdivisions of a state, such as a county, city or town District of Columbia government and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (now Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands). Tribal organization means the recognized body of any AI/AN tribe any legally established organization of American Indians/Alaska Natives which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of American Indians/Alaska Natives in all phases of its activities. Note Public entities that are currently receiving funds under the Implementation Cooperative Agreements for the Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program (System of Care Expansion Implementation Cooperative Agreements), RFA SM 12 003 and RFA SM 14 002, are not eligible to apply under this funding announcement. State governments, Indian or tribal organizations and Governmental units within political subdivisions of a state which have already received one of the grants are not eligible to apply. Eligible State applicants for this grant may not choose local jurisdictions that have received an implementation expansion grant previously. If a state applicant submits an application with a local jurisdiction that is already a grantee, this application will be screened out. Indian or tribal organizations, and governmental units within political subdivisions of a state, may apply as long as they have not received this grant previously. If a state applicant identifies a local jurisdiction that has also submitted a separate application, SAMHSA will score both. The highest priority scored application will be awarded should both applications be in the fundable range. SAMHSA is limiting eligibility in order to expand the number of states, jurisdictions and localities within a state, political subdivision, tribe, tribal organization or territory that wish to adopt and expand the SOC approach. See Appendix II of the RFA for a list of ineligible entities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Cooperative Agreements for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (Funding Opportunity Number SM-15-009) is a SAMHSA discretionary grant program designed to improve mental health outcomes for children and youth from birth through age 21 who have serious emotional disturbances (SED), as well as those showing early signs and symptoms of serious mental illness, including first episode psychosis. The core idea is to expand and more firmly embed the "system of care" (SOC) approach in communities by helping public entities build the lasting infrastructure, partnerships, and service capacity needed to operate comprehensive, coordinated children’s behavioral health systems. In practice, the opportunity is meant to push SOC beyond isolated demonstration projects and move it toward broad, routine adoption as the primary way children and youth with SED receive services across the country.
Program funding is aimed at supporting the wide-scale operation, expansion, and integration of SOC by strengthening sustainable financing and cross-agency collaboration and by developing the policy and structural foundations that allow services to continue after federal funding ends. Applicants are expected to use the cooperative agreement to weave together mental health treatment and recovery supports with other child- and family-serving systems, recognizing that children with complex needs often touch multiple sectors such as schools, child welfare, juvenile justice, primary care, and developmental services. The opportunity emphasizes not only service delivery but also the behind-the-scenes system work that makes services accessible and coordinated, including governance structures, shared protocols, data and quality improvement capacity, and mechanisms to pay for and scale effective practices.
A major focus of the opportunity is on implementing and expanding evidence-based and evidence-informed services and supports, along with the systemic changes needed to make those practices routine and sustainable. Beyond direct services, SAMHSA highlights activities such as training and workforce development, which typically includes building a workforce skilled in SOC values like family-driven and youth-guided planning, culturally and linguistically appropriate services, trauma-informed approaches, and coordinated care. The program is framed as building on progress already made nationwide under the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI), which SAMHSA cites as a strong example of its broader Theory of Change. CMHI is described as having demonstrated improved outcomes for children and families, service system improvements, and a positive return on investment, and this grant opportunity is positioned as a way to continue that momentum and lock in long-term adoption of SOC principles.
The announcement also makes clear that reducing behavioral health disparities is a priority. Applicants are encouraged to implement strategies that narrow differences in access, service use, and outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations. This means the program is not just about increasing overall capacity, but also about ensuring communities can reach underserved groups effectively and equitably, with deliberate attention to culturally responsive engagement, services, and measurement of outcomes.
Administratively, the awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically means SAMHSA expects substantial federal involvement in the project’s direction, monitoring, and technical assistance compared to a standard grant. The program is authorized under Sections 561-565 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, and it aligns with broader federal goals such as Healthy People 2020’s Mental Health and Mental Disorders objectives as well as SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, reinforcing the emphasis on recovery-oriented supports for youth and families rather than services that are narrowly clinical or siloed.
Funding details show an estimated total funding pool of $45,000,000 with an expected 45 awards, and an award ceiling of $3,000,000. The CFDA number is 93.104. Cost sharing or matching is required, signaling that awardees must bring non-federal resources or contributions to help support the work and reinforce sustainability. Key dates for the posted opportunity were February 9, 2015 (posted) with an application closing date of April 10, 2015, and an archive date of May 10, 2015.
Eligibility is statutorily limited to public entities. Eligible applicants include state governments; Indian or tribal organizations as defined under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act; and governmental units within political subdivisions of a state (such as counties, cities, or towns). U.S. territories and freely associated states are also included (for example, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory entities referenced as Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands). The announcement includes notable restrictions intended to spread SOC adoption to new jurisdictions. Specifically, public entities already receiving funds under prior SOC expansion implementation RFAs (SM-12-003 and SM-14-002) are not eligible to apply, and states that previously received one of the grants are not eligible to apply again. Additionally, eligible state applicants cannot select local jurisdictions that have previously received an implementation expansion grant; applications that include an ineligible local jurisdiction are screened out. Local governmental units and tribal organizations may apply so long as they have not previously received this grant. If both a state and a local jurisdiction submit competing applications involving the same local area, SAMHSA may score both and fund the highest-ranked application if both are otherwise fundable. SAMHSA also references an appendix listing ineligible entities, reinforcing that eligibility screening is a major gatekeeping step for this opportunity.
Overall, this funding opportunity is best understood as a federal effort to help communities institutionalize comprehensive, coordinated children’s mental health systems that are sustainable, cross-sector, and equity-focused. Rather than funding isolated programs, it aims to create the financing, governance, workforce, policy, and service infrastructure necessary for SOC to function at scale, support youth with SED and early serious mental illness, and deliver measurable improvements that persist after the federal award period ends.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Agreements for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances" and carries Funding Opportunity Number SM-15-009.
2) What federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) discretionary grant program.
3) What is the overall purpose of SM-15-009?
The purpose is to improve mental health outcomes for children and youth (birth through age 21) who have serious emotional disturbances (SED), as well as those showing early signs and symptoms of serious mental illness, including first episode psychosis, by expanding and sustaining the System of Care (SOC) approach in communities.
4) Who is the target population for services and supports funded under this program?
The program targets children and youth from birth through age 21 with serious emotional disturbances (SED). It also includes a focus on youth showing early signs and symptoms of serious mental illness, specifically including first episode psychosis.
5) What is meant by the "System of Care" (SOC) approach in this announcement?
In this opportunity, SOC refers to a comprehensive, coordinated children’s behavioral health system that is embedded in the community and built through lasting infrastructure, partnerships, and service capacity. The intent is to move SOC beyond isolated demonstration projects toward broad, routine adoption as the primary way children and youth with SED receive services.
6) Is this funding mainly for direct clinical services, or for system building?
The opportunity emphasizes both, but it strongly highlights system-level work that makes services accessible and coordinated. Examples include governance structures, shared protocols, data and quality improvement capacity, sustainable financing, cross-agency collaboration, and mechanisms to pay for and scale effective practices.
7) What kinds of cross-system partnerships are expected?
Applicants are expected to weave mental health treatment and recovery supports together with other child- and family-serving systems. The announcement specifically notes sectors such as schools, child welfare, juvenile justice, primary care, and developmental services.
8) What does "expansion and sustainability" mean in practice?
It means operating, expanding, and integrating SOC in a way that can continue after federal funding ends. The announcement stresses sustainable financing, policy and structural foundations, and cross-agency coordination so SOC can function at scale as routine practice, not as a time-limited pilot.
9) Does the program require evidence-based or evidence-informed approaches?
Yes. A major focus is implementing and expanding evidence-based and evidence-informed services and supports, along with the system changes needed to make those practices routine and sustainable.
10) What kinds of workforce activities does the program emphasize?
SAMHSA highlights training and workforce development, including building staff capacity in SOC values and practices such as family-driven and youth-guided planning, culturally and linguistically appropriate services, trauma-informed approaches, and coordinated care.
11) How does this opportunity relate to the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI)?
The announcement describes CMHI as demonstrating improved outcomes for children and families, service system improvements, and a positive return on investment. This grant is positioned as building on that progress to support longer-term adoption and embedding of SOC principles.
12) Is reducing behavioral health disparities part of the program requirements?
Yes. Reducing behavioral health disparities is a stated priority. Applicants are encouraged to implement strategies that narrow differences in access, service use, and outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations, with attention to culturally responsive engagement, services, and outcome measurement.
13) What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement), and why does that matter?
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements. The announcement notes that this typically involves substantial federal involvement in project direction, monitoring, and technical assistance compared with a standard grant.
14) What is the legal authority for this program?
The program is authorized under Sections 561-565 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.
15) What federal priorities or frameworks does the program align with?
The opportunity aligns with Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders objectives and SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, reinforcing recovery-oriented supports for youth and families.
16) How much funding is available, and how many awards are expected?
The announcement lists an estimated total funding pool of $45,000,000, with an expected 45 awards.
17) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $3,000,000.
18) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 93.104.
19) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching is required, meaning awardees must bring non-federal resources or contributions to support the work and reinforce sustainability.
20) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is statutorily limited to public entities. Eligible applicants include state governments; Indian or tribal organizations (as defined under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act); and governmental units within political subdivisions of a state (such as counties, cities, or towns). Certain U.S. territories and freely associated states are also included (for example, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Trust Territory entities referenced as Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands).
21) Are nonprofit organizations or universities eligible?
Based on the announcement summary provided, eligibility is limited to public entities. No other applicant types are described as eligible in the provided information.
22) What prior funding would make an applicant ineligible?
Public entities already receiving funds under prior SOC expansion implementation RFAs (SM-12-003 and SM-14-002) are not eligible to apply. The announcement also states that states that previously received one of the grants are not eligible to apply again.
23) Are there restrictions on which local jurisdictions a state can include?
Yes. Eligible state applicants cannot select local jurisdictions that have previously received an implementation expansion grant. Applications that include an ineligible local jurisdiction are screened out.
24) Can local governments or tribal organizations apply directly?
Yes, local governmental units and tribal organizations may apply as long as they have not previously received this grant, according to the restrictions described in the announcement.
25) What happens if a state and a local jurisdiction both apply for the same local area?
The announcement states that SAMHSA may score both applications and fund the highest-ranked application if both are otherwise fundable.
26) How important is eligibility screening for this opportunity?
Eligibility screening is described as a major gatekeeping step. The announcement references an appendix listing ineligible entities and notes that certain applications can be screened out due to ineligible prior awards or selection of an ineligible local jurisdiction.
27) What were the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on February 9, 2015. The application closing date was April 10, 2015, and the archive date was May 10, 2015.
28) What is the main outcome SAMHSA is trying to achieve with this funding?
The program seeks measurable improvements in children’s and youth mental health outcomes and aims to institutionalize comprehensive, coordinated, and equitable systems that persist after the federal award period ends through sustainable financing, governance, workforce capacity, policy foundations, and cross-sector service integration.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (SM 15 009) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Strengthening a Regional Public Health Surveillance, Capacity and Laboratory Network for Central America with the Secretaria General del Sistema de la Integracion Centroamericana (SG SICA) / Consejo de Ministros de Salud de Centroamerica (COMISCA) Apply for CDC RFA GH15 1607 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH15 1607 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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