Opportunity Information: Apply for SM 14 019
Apply for SM 14 019
- The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Adminis. in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Now is the Time Project AWARE Local Educational Agency Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health ServicesProjects of Regional and National Significance.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 9, 2014 and posted on Apr 15, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 16, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $9,419,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are Local Educational Agencies or consortia of LEAs, as defined by section 9101 (41) of the ESEA. Applicants for this announcement are also required to apply for the Department of Educations LEA School Climate Transformation grants or your application will be screened out. The grant announcement number and hyperlink to the RFA will be posted on the SAMHSA website http://www.samhsa.gov when it is available. The purpose of this program is to assist Local Educational Agencies to begin to support the training of school personnel and other adults who interact with youth in both school settings and local communities to detect and respond to mental illness in school aged youth, including how to encourage adolescents and their families experiencing these problems to seek treatment. These individuals will be trained in Mental Health First Aid or Youth Mental Health First Aid. Therefore, eligibility is being limited to LEAs since these individuals have substantial involvement and access to children and youth in both school settings and local communities and can begin to immediately implement the goals and objectives of this program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Now is the Time Project AWARE Local Educational Agency (LEA) Grants were a FY 2014 discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services. The program sat under the broader national "Now is the Time" initiative and Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education), reflecting a school and community focused strategy to strengthen early identification and response to youth mental health needs. The core idea behind the opportunity was straightforward: equip the adults who regularly interact with children and adolescents with practical skills to recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges, respond appropriately in the moment, and help connect young people and families to professional support earlier rather than later.
The main purpose of the grant was to help local educational agencies start or expand a structured training effort for school personnel and other youth-serving adults in the community. A central requirement was that trainees receive Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) or Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training. These trainings are designed to build mental health literacy by covering common risk factors, warning signs, and symptoms in adolescents, emphasizing the importance of early intervention, and teaching concrete steps for assisting a young person experiencing a crisis or developing problem. The opportunity stressed that MHFA and YMHFA are not therapy programs; instead, they function like a public health education and first-response skill set, using role plays and simulations to practice assessing a situation, choosing initial interventions, offering immediate support, and making appropriate referrals to professional, peer, social, or self-help resources.
SAMHSA framed the need for this work using widely cited developmental timing facts: many lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, and a large share emerge by age 24, yet treatment often comes long after symptoms first appear. The grant narrative highlighted that delays in treatment can allow conditions to worsen and can contribute to additional co-occurring disorders. In that context, training the adults closest to youth day-to-day was presented as a practical way to shorten the gap between early symptoms and getting help, while also improving general awareness and reducing stigma in school communities.
A notable feature of the program was its broad target audience for training. While schools were the hub, the grant encouraged a community-wide approach that included not only teachers and counselors, but also administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, playground attendants, and athletic coaches and trainers. It also explicitly included emergency responders and public safety partners such as police, firefighters, and emergency services staff, along with parents, caregivers, and other adults who serve youth outside the classroom. This reflects Congress's direction in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, which provided funding tied to a "broad public health safety approach" for Mental Health First Aid, reaching both school officials and other community actors who interact with youth.
SAMHSA also indicated that Project AWARE would evaluate the impact of MHFA/YMHFA training beyond individual knowledge gains. Expected outcomes included increased mental health literacy among adults, increased awareness among school-aged youth, improvements in school climate, potential contributions to preventing school violence, and increased access to mental health services through better recognition and referral. Applicants were encouraged to show that their proposed work would build on and enhance existing efforts, and specifically to avoid duplicating activities that might already be supported under SAMHSA's related Project AWARE State Educational Agency grant.
In terms of basic funding details, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SM-14-019; CFDA 93.243) was posted April 15, 2014, with an application deadline of June 16, 2014, and an archive date of July 16, 2014. SAMHSA anticipated up to 100 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of about $9.419 million and an award ceiling of $50,000. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed.
Eligibility was limited to Local Educational Agencies or consortia of LEAs as defined in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). A key screening requirement made this competition distinctive: applicants also had to apply for the U.S. Department of Education's LEA School Climate Transformation grants, or their SAMHSA application would be screened out. The statutory authority cited for the program was Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act (as amended), and the announcement aligned with Healthy People 2020 objectives in the Mental Health and Mental Disorders topic area.
For applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Gwendolyn Simpson in SAMHSA's Office of Financial Resources, Division of Grants Management, located in Rockville, Maryland, with a phone number and email provided in the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Now is the Time Project AWARE LEA Grants opportunity?
The Now is the Time Project AWARE Local Educational Agency (LEA) Grants were a FY 2014 discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services. The program fit within the broader national "Now is the Time" initiative and Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education), focused on strengthening early identification and response to youth mental health needs through training for adults who interact with children and adolescents.
What was the main purpose of the grant?
The main purpose was to help local educational agencies start or expand a structured training effort for school personnel and other youth-serving adults in the community. The goal was to build practical skills to recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges, respond appropriately, and connect youth and families to professional supports earlier.
Which federal agency administered this grant?
SAMHSA administered the opportunity through its Center for Mental Health Services.
What is the core required training under this grant?
A central requirement was that trainees receive Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) or Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training.
What do MHFA and YMHFA trainings cover?
MHFA and YMHFA are designed to build mental health literacy by covering common risk factors, warning signs, and symptoms in adolescents, emphasizing early intervention, and teaching concrete steps for assisting a young person who may be experiencing a crisis or developing a mental health or substance use problem.
Are MHFA and YMHFA therapy programs?
No. The opportunity stressed that MHFA and YMHFA are not therapy programs. They are described as a public health education and first-response skill set, using role plays and simulations to practice assessing situations, choosing initial interventions, offering immediate support, and making appropriate referrals.
Who was intended to be trained (target audience)?
The grant encouraged a broad, community-wide training approach. While schools were the hub, the intended trainee audience included teachers and counselors as well as administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, playground attendants, and athletic coaches and trainers. It also explicitly included emergency responders and public safety partners (police, firefighters, emergency services staff), along with parents, caregivers, and other adults who serve youth outside the classroom.
Why did SAMHSA emphasize early identification and response for youth mental health?
SAMHSA framed the need around developmental timing: many lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, and a large share emerge by age 24, yet treatment often occurs long after symptoms first appear. The narrative highlighted that delays can allow conditions to worsen and contribute to additional co-occurring disorders, making adult training a practical strategy to shorten the gap between early symptoms and help.
What outcomes did SAMHSA expect from Project AWARE training efforts?
Expected outcomes extended beyond individual knowledge gains and included increased mental health literacy among adults, increased awareness among school-aged youth, improvements in school climate, potential contributions to preventing school violence, and increased access to mental health services through better recognition and referral.
Did SAMHSA encourage coordination with existing efforts?
Yes. Applicants were encouraged to show that proposed work would build on and enhance existing efforts.
Were applicants advised to avoid duplicating other SAMHSA-funded activities?
Yes. The opportunity specifically encouraged applicants to avoid duplicating activities that might already be supported under SAMHSA's related Project AWARE State Educational Agency grant.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number was SM-14-019.
What CFDA number was associated with this grant?
The CFDA number listed was 93.243.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on April 15, 2014. The application deadline was June 16, 2014. The archive date was July 16, 2014.
How many awards were anticipated?
SAMHSA anticipated up to 100 awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was about $9.419 million.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $50,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was listed.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) or consortia of LEAs as defined in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Was there a special screening requirement tied to another federal application?
Yes. A key screening requirement was that applicants also had to apply for the U.S. Department of Education's LEA School Climate Transformation grants. The notice stated that if an applicant did not apply for the Department of Education grant, the SAMHSA application would be screened out.
What statutory authority was cited for the program?
The statutory authority cited was Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act (as amended).
How did Congress describe the approach behind Mental Health First Aid funding in this context?
The announcement referenced Congress's direction in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, tying funding to a "broad public health safety approach" for Mental Health First Aid that reaches school officials and other community actors who interact with youth.
Did the announcement align with any national public health objectives?
Yes. The announcement indicated alignment with Healthy People 2020 objectives in the Mental Health and Mental Disorders topic area.
Who was the point of contact for help accessing the full announcement?
The listed point of contact was Gwendolyn Simpson in SAMHSA's Office of Financial Resources, Division of Grants Management, located in Rockville, Maryland. A phone number and email were provided in the notice.
Where within SAMHSA was the grant managed?
The point of contact listed was within SAMHSA's Office of Financial Resources, Division of Grants Management, and the program itself was offered by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services.
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