Opportunity Information: Apply for SM 14 018
Apply for SM 14 018
- The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Adminis. in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Now is the Time Project AWARE State 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 $38,838,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,950,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are State Educational Agencies (SEAs) as defined by section 9101(41) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Applicants for this grant announcement are required to also apply for the ED SEA School Climate Transformation grant or applications will be screened out. NOTE The announcement number and hyperlink to the ED RFA will be posted on the SAMHSA website http://beta.samhsa.gov when it is available. The purpose of the program is to build and expand the capacity of State Educational Agencies to increase awareness of mental health issues among school aged youth, provide training for school personnel and other adults who interact with school aged youth to detect and respond to mental health issues in children and young adults, and connect children, youth and families who may have behavioral health issues with appropriate services. Therefore, eligibility for this program is limited to State Educational Agencies since they are uniquely qualified to reach school aged students and build the capacity of the program to take statewide to reach more students.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Now is the Time Project AWARE State Educational Agency (SEA) Grants were a FY 2014 funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. The program was structured as a cooperative agreement aimed at helping State Educational Agencies strengthen statewide capacity to support student mental health. At its core, the opportunity focused on three connected goals: raising awareness and mental health literacy for school-aged youth, training the adults who regularly interact with young people to recognize and respond to mental health concerns, and improving how children, youth, and families are connected to appropriate behavioral health services. The broader intent was to create a comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated approach to advancing wellness and resilience in educational settings while also helping prevent youth violence and promote healthy development. The initiative explicitly built on lessons from the long-running Safe Schools/Healthy Students model, emphasizing that safer school climates and stronger student supports come from coordinated systems rather than isolated programs.
A major theme of the grant was building cross-system infrastructure so schools are not working alone when students need help. The opportunity highlighted the importance of early identification of behavioral health needs, clear referral pathways, and stronger coordination among education, mental health, juvenile justice, and law enforcement. It also underscored why this work matters: untreated childhood mental and emotional disorders can affect school performance and graduation, and can translate into reduced employment and other long-term economic and social impacts. The program encouraged SEAs to use population-level data to guide planning and to implement science-informed policies and practices, drawing from prevention and implementation science to support broader adoption across a state.
The grant was organized into two required components with specific funding expectations. Component 1, the larger share, focused on addressing the mental health needs of children, youth, families/caregivers, and communities by improving coordination and integration of mental, emotional, and behavioral health services in schools and communities. This component was designed to increase access to services by aligning state and local policies, resources, and systems, and by helping states identify strategies to leverage existing funding mechanisms to sustain services. Funding for Component 1 could be as much as $1.7 million per year, representing about 87 percent of the total award. The notice also set clear allocation rules: at least 75 percent of Component 1 dollars had to support Local Educational Agency (LEA) activities, at least 15 percent had to support SEA-level activities, and no more than 10 percent could be used for evaluation.
Component 2 focused on implementing statewide and local Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and/or Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training programs. The goal here was practical skill-building for school personnel, emergency first responders, and other adults who interact with young people, so they can better detect signs of mental illness or substance use challenges, respond appropriately in crisis situations, and encourage youth and families to seek and obtain treatment. The funding for Component 2 could be as much as $236,000 per year (about 13 percent of the total), and unlike Component 1, the SEA was allowed to retain up to 100 percent of Component 2 funds to run the training effort. The announcement explained that adult MHFA is designed for people 18 and older and is available in English and Spanish, while YMHFA focuses on helping adults support adolescents ages 12 to 18. Applicants were expected to select the curriculum that fit their target population, especially in places where students might be over 18. The notice also identified that Mental Health First Aid USA is managed and disseminated by the National Council for Behavioral Health along with the Maryland and Missouri state mental health agencies, and it noted that applicants could work with these entities to train and certify instructors.
Program design expectations went beyond service coordination and training. Grantees were expected to involve families in planning and implementation, reflecting an emphasis on child-centered, family-focused, culturally and linguistically competent supports. The funding also came with an explicit non-duplication expectation: applicants had to show how their activities would build on and enhance existing work rather than duplicate efforts, particularly if the state or communities were also involved in related SAMHSA LEA grant activities. In addition, a key eligibility condition was that applicants had to be State Educational Agencies as defined in federal education law, and they were required to also apply for the U.S. Department of Education SEA School Climate Transformation grant; applications that did not meet this requirement would be screened out.
In terms of logistics and scale, the opportunity was listed as discretionary grant funding in the health activity category (CFDA 93.243). SAMHSA anticipated up to 20 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of about $38.838 million. The ceiling per award was $1.95 million, with no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The posting date was April 15, 2014, and the application deadline was June 16, 2014 (with an archive date of July 16, 2014). The opportunity was authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act (as amended) and aligned with Healthy People 2020 priorities in the Mental Health and Mental Disorders topic area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Now is the Time Project AWARE SEA Grant opportunity?
The Now is the Time Project AWARE State Educational Agency (SEA) Grants were a FY 2014 funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. The program was structured as a cooperative agreement to help State Educational Agencies strengthen statewide capacity to support student mental health.
Who funded and administered this grant?
The opportunity was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services.
What type of award mechanism was used?
The program was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the federal agency anticipated a more involved partnership role compared to a typical grant.
What were the core goals of the program?
The opportunity centered on three connected goals: (1) raising awareness and mental health literacy for school-aged youth, (2) training adults who regularly interact with young people to recognize and respond to mental health concerns, and (3) improving connections for children, youth, and families to appropriate behavioral health services.
What broader outcomes was the grant trying to support?
The broader intent was to promote a comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated approach to advancing wellness and resilience in educational settings, while helping prevent youth violence and promote healthy development.
Did the opportunity build on any previous models or initiatives?
Yes. The initiative explicitly built on lessons from the Safe Schools/Healthy Students model, emphasizing coordinated systems and school climate improvements rather than isolated programs.
Why did the opportunity emphasize cross-system coordination?
A major theme was building cross-system infrastructure so schools are not working alone when students need help. The opportunity highlighted early identification of behavioral health needs, clear referral pathways, and stronger coordination among education, mental health, juvenile justice, and law enforcement.
What problem statement or need did the notice highlight?
The notice underscored that untreated childhood mental and emotional disorders can affect school performance and graduation and can contribute to reduced employment and other long-term economic and social impacts.
Were grantees expected to use data and evidence-informed approaches?
Yes. The program encouraged SEAs to use population-level data to guide planning and to implement science-informed policies and practices, drawing from prevention science and implementation science to support broader statewide adoption.
How was the grant structured programmatically?
The grant was organized into two required components: Component 1 focused on service coordination and integration, and Component 2 focused on statewide and local Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and/or Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training.
What was Component 1 focused on?
Component 1 focused on addressing the mental health needs of children, youth, families/caregivers, and communities by improving coordination and integration of mental, emotional, and behavioral health services in schools and communities to increase access to services.
What kinds of strategies were included under Component 1?
Component 1 was designed to align state and local policies, resources, and systems. It also emphasized helping states identify strategies to leverage existing funding mechanisms to sustain services.
What was the maximum annual funding amount for Component 1?
Component 1 funding could be as much as $1.7 million per year, representing about 87 percent of the total award.
How were Component 1 funds required to be allocated?
The notice set allocation rules for Component 1: at least 75 percent had to support Local Educational Agency (LEA) activities, at least 15 percent had to support SEA-level activities, and no more than 10 percent could be used for evaluation.
What was Component 2 focused on?
Component 2 focused on implementing statewide and local MHFA and/or YMHFA training programs to build practical skills among adults who interact with young people so they can recognize signs of mental illness or substance use challenges, respond appropriately in crisis situations, and encourage youth and families to seek and obtain treatment.
Who were the intended trainees under Component 2?
The opportunity described training for school personnel, emergency first responders, and other adults who interact with young people.
What was the maximum annual funding amount for Component 2?
Component 2 funding could be as much as $236,000 per year (about 13 percent of the total award).
Could the SEA retain all Component 2 funds?
Yes. Unlike Component 1, the SEA was allowed to retain up to 100 percent of Component 2 funds to run the training effort.
What is the difference between MHFA and YMHFA as described in the notice?
Adult MHFA is designed for people age 18 and older and was noted as available in English and Spanish. YMHFA focuses on helping adults support adolescents ages 12 to 18.
How were applicants expected to choose between MHFA and YMHFA?
Applicants were expected to select the curriculum that fit their target population, including consideration for settings where students might be over 18.
Who manages and disseminates Mental Health First Aid USA?
The notice stated that Mental Health First Aid USA is managed and disseminated by the National Council for Behavioral Health in collaboration with the Maryland and Missouri state mental health agencies.
Could applicants partner with MHFA entities to train instructors?
Yes. The announcement noted that applicants could work with the entities associated with MHFA USA to train and certify instructors.
Were family engagement and cultural/linguistic competence part of program expectations?
Yes. Grantees were expected to involve families in planning and implementation, with an emphasis on child-centered, family-focused, culturally and linguistically competent supports.
Was there a requirement to avoid duplicating existing efforts?
Yes. The funding included an explicit non-duplication expectation: applicants had to show how their activities would build on and enhance existing work rather than duplicate efforts, particularly if the state or communities were involved in related SAMHSA LEA grant activities.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to State Educational Agencies (SEAs) as defined in federal education law.
Was any other application required in order to be eligible?
Yes. Applicants were required to also apply for the U.S. Department of Education SEA School Climate Transformation grant. Applications that did not meet this requirement would be screened out.
What was the CFDA number and activity category?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 93.243 and categorized as discretionary grant funding in the health activity category.
How many awards were anticipated and what was the estimated total funding?
SAMHSA anticipated up to 20 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of about $38.838 million.
What was the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The ceiling per award was $1.95 million.
Was cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What were the key dates for this FY 2014 opportunity?
The posting date was April 15, 2014. The application deadline was June 16, 2014. The archive date was July 16, 2014.
What statutory authority supported this grant?
The opportunity was authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act (as amended).
How did the opportunity align with national priorities?
The notice stated the opportunity aligned with Healthy People 2020 priorities in the Mental Health and Mental Disorders topic area.
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