Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
Summary and Purpose
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) administers the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG). Funds are used 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). Funds are used to: (1) carry out the State Plan contained in the application; (2) evaluate programs and services; and, (3) conduct planning, implementation, and educational activities related to the provision of services.
DHCS acts as a pass-through agency to provide MHBG funding to participating local county behavioral health plans (BHPs) and encourages counties to implement innovative programs and services that may not be funded by other mental health programs or funding sources. The BHPs and their contracted providers deliver a broad array of treatment and support services that include over 150 individual programs supported by the block grant. Counties are allowed full flexibility (within the limits of allowable activity requirements) to fund programs that provide maximum impact and positive outcomes to their residents.
MHBG Programs
| Project | Description |
| Dual Diagnosis Set-Aside | States can use funds to provide services to persons with co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health diagnoses. Services may include treatment planning, case management, individual or group psychotherapy, supported employment and education services, family education and support, antipsychotic agents and medication management, primary care coordination, and peer support, among others. |
| First Episode Psychosis Set-Aside | Symptoms of psychosis most commonly begin in the late teen and early adult years. First Episode Psychosis (FEP) is a critical time period where early and timely intervention can help individuals achieve improved behavioral health outcomes in the short and long term. Services may include support via an evidence-based model known as Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC). |
| Children's System of Care Set-Aside | This promotes the coordination of the often-fragmented systems that serve children and youth diagnosed with a serious emotional disturbance and their families. The system of care approach offers a pathway to better outcomes for children who have serious mental health conditions, including improved functioning at home, at school, and in the community. |
| Integrated Services Agency Set-Aside | The integrated services agency (ISA) set-aside provides an adult with SMI or a co-occurring disorder access to a full range of services provided by multiple agencies, programs, and funding sources in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. These services can include psychosocial, rehabilitation, and recovery-oriented services. ISA ultimately strives to provide mental health services to enhance the quality of life by empowering individuals to take charge of their own lives by promoting self-care and independence. |
| Crisis Services Set-Aside | This set-aside provides dedicated funding for states to support a continuum of evidence-based crisis services, which may include crisis call centers, residential programs and facilities for crisis stabilization, and mobile crisis teams. |
Federal MHBG Applications and Reports
DHCS submits a biennial MHBG Application to SAMHSA outlining the State's plan to support and monitor grant funded mental health programs throughout California.
DHCS submits the annual MHBG Report to SAMHSA to report progress on identified goals in the State Plan and report state agency expenditures projected in the biennial MHBG Application.
To access California's prior Application or current, approved MHBG Report, visit SAMHSA's Web-based Grant Application System (WebBGAS); Username: citizenca; Password: citizen. Once you have logged in click on "View an Existing Application," select the Mental Health Block Grant Report or application you wish to view, and select the “View Application" icon on the next screen.
County MHBG Application
To receive the formula allocation, each county is required to submit a biennial application to DHCS that details their intended use of the funds. In addition, the county application must include a Federal Grant Detailed Provider Budget for each program and signed assurances accepting the block grant funds under the conditions established by governing federal and State laws, regulations, and guidelines, as well as specific conditions included in their county application.
Public Comment Process
Block Grant legislation stipulates that as a condition of the funding agreement for the grant, States will provide opportunity for the public to comment on the State Plan. States will make the Plan public in such a manner to facilitate comments from any person (including Federal or other public agency) during the development of the Plan (including any revisions) and after the submission of the Plan to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
A request of approval of a modification to the Plan may be made at any time during the year. Comments on the Plan may also be made at any time during the year. Comments will be considered in any modification or formulation of the Biennial Plan.
You may forward any comments on the Plan to MHBG@dhcs.ca.gov.
MHBG Resources
Contact Us
If you or someone you know is in need of mental health services, please contact your county for more information: County Mental Health Plan 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.
For questions regarding the MHBG Grant, email MHBG@dhcs.ca.gov.
