Federal Grants Branch
The Federal Grants Branch (FGB) within the Community Services Division (CSD), administers federal behavioral health grants that are awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), including the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG), the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG), the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant, and the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) grant.
Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG)
The SUBG Program's objective is to help plan, implement, and evaluate activities that prevent and treat substance use disorder (SUD). The program provides funding for prevention, treatment, recovery support, and other services that supplement Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.
DHCS distributes SUBG funding to participating county behavioral health departments to either provide SUD services directly or by contracting with local SUD providers. DHCS encourages counties to implement innovative programs and services that may not be funded by other substance use funding sources.
SUBG Homepage
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG)
The MHBG program's objective is to provide funding to establish or expand an organized community-based system of care for providing non-Title XIX mental health services to children with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and adults with serious mental illness (SMI). The program provides funding to support prevention, treatment, recovery support, and other related services that supplement Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.
DHCS distributes MHBG funding to participating county behavioral health departments to either provide mental health services directly or contract with local mental health providers. DHCS encourages counties to implement innovative programs and services that may not be funded by other mental health funding sources.
MHBG Homepage
State Opioid Response (California DHCS Opioid Response)
The State Opioid Response (SOR) program's objective is to increase prevention, treatment and recovery service activities initiated within the California DHCS Opioid Response [previously known as the California Medication for Assisted Treatment (MAT) Expansion Project]. SOR projects aim to increase access to MAT, reduce unmet treatment need, and reduce opioid overdose deaths through programs focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery. The California DHCS Opioid Response focuses on all populations with limited MAT access including youth, rural areas, and American Indian & Alaska Native tribal communities.
California is in its fourth iteration of the SOR grant, a discretionary, federal funding award with a period of performance from September 30, 2024, to September 29, 2027.
CA DHCS Opioid Response Overview
Projects for Assistance in Transition for Homelessness (PATH)
The PATH program's objective is to support service delivery for individuals with a serious mental illness or co-occurring substance use disorder who are homeless or are at imminent risk of becoming homeless. The goal is to connect individuals to mental health and supportive services as a method of working towards the reduction of homelessness for this population.
DHCS distributes PATH funding to participating county behavioral health departments to provide street outreach, case management, and other services that are not supported by mainstream mental health programs.
PATH Homepage
Independent Peer Review
Federal statute requires independent peer reviews for SUBG and MHBG to assess quality, appropriateness, and efficacy of services utilizing Block Grant funding. No fewer than 5% of counties will be reviewed annually.
Contact Us
Individuals seeking mental health services should contact their county by using the contact information available here: County Mental Health Plan Information.
Individuals seeking substance use disorder services or information should contact their county by using the contact information available here: Substance Use Disorder County Access Lines.
For questions regarding individual FGB grants, please click on the program homepage links above for program-specific contact information.
If you think you are having an emergency for an unexpected medical condition, including a psychiatric emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for help.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
