How States Leverage Federal Dollars to Expand Crisis Services—Part 2: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Funding

Key Points

• The study aims to understand how states utilize SAMHSA funding to enhance crisis services for mental health and substance abuse.
• Analyzed funding mechanisms available through SAMHSA, such as the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and Cooperative Agreements.
• Identified strategies used by states to improve crisis response services over fiscal years 2022-2024.
• Examined the role of certified community behavioral health clinics in state-level crisis service planning.
• States reported improvements in crisis services due to SAMHSA funding mechanisms, with calls for increasing the 5% set-aside to 10%.
• The establishment of Cooperative Agreements has fostered innovative community crisis responses with positive initial outcomes.
• Calls for policy recommendations to ensure sustainable funding and optimal coverage of crisis services through CCBHCs.