SAMHSA Accepting Applications for Grants to Promote Behavioral Health in Children

SAMHSA Accepting Applications for Grants to Promote Behavioral Health in Children
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for more than $10 million in funding for preventing aggressive and disruptive behavior among young children in the short term and prevent antisocial behavior and the use of illicit drugs in the longer term.  This effort is a key part of SAMHSA’s strategic initiative to help promote emotional health, as well as prevent and reduce mental illness and substance abuse. 

Grantees will implement an evidence-based practice in schools, specifically the Good Behavior Game, a behavioral classroom management strategy that involves helping children learn how to work together. The long-term benefits of using this evidence-based practice among children at high risk are significant:

• Eighty-six percent of Good Behavior Game participants attained a high school diploma, compared with a rate of 19 percent among similar students who did not participate in the program.
• Ninety-nine percent of non-participants went on to use illicit drugs, compared with 66 percent of participants.

Through coordinated services, Good Behavior Game grants will work in funded communities to:

• Decrease teacher reports of aggressive behaviors in the classroom (short-term)
• Decrease the percentage of students involved in aggressive behavior (long-term)
• Increase the number of people trained in behavioral health-related practices/activities
• Increase the number of children exposed to behavioral health awareness messages
• Increase the number of classrooms per school implementing the Good Behavior Game
• Increase the number of teachers who successfully implemented the Good Behavior Game each year

Each of the 20 awardees may receive up to $100,000 per year for up to five years. Actual award amounts may vary, depending on the availability of funds and the performance of the grantees.

WHO CAN APPLY: Local educational authorities in economically disadvantaged communities, including tribal communities.

HOW TO APPLY: Applications for are SM-10-017 are available by calling SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA7 or by downloading the application . Applicants are encouraged to apply online using http://www.grants.gov/.

APPLICATION DUE DATE: May 18, 2010. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For questions about program issues, contact Gail F. Ritchie at (240) 276-1867 or gail.ritchie@samhsa.hhs.gov. For questions on grants management and budget issues, contact Gwendolyn Simpson at (240) 276-1408 or gwendolyn.simpson@samhsa.hhs.gov.