The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov is accepting applications for up to $163.2 million for “Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration” (PBHCI) www.integration.samhsa.gov/bout-us/pbhci grants over the next four years to be awarded to qualified community mental health programs.
SAMHSA expects to award up to 102 grants up to $400,000 per grant annually for up to four years. The actual award amounts may vary depending on the availability of funds.
The purpose for the program is to provide coordinated and integrated services by co-locating primary and specialty care medical services in community-based mental and behavioral health settings. The goal is to improve the physical health status of adults with Serious Mental Illnesses (SMI) who have or are at risk for co-occurring primary care conditions and chronic diseases.
SAMHSA launched the PBHCI program in FY 2009 knowing that adults with serious mental illness experience heightened morbidity and mortality, in large part due to elevated incidence and prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
This increase in morbidity and mortality can be attributed to a number of issues, such as inadequate physical activity, poor nutrition, smoking, side effects from atypical antipsychotic medications, and lack of access to healthcare services.
Emerging research has documented exposure to traumatic events, impaired neurodevelopmental and immune systems responses and subsequent health risk behaviors that result in chronic physical or behavioral health disorders.
Grantees will be expected to focus on integrated treatment teams, evidence-based and promising wellness interventions, primary care access, information sharing, treatment planning, performance monitoring, along with continuous quality improvement and sustainability.
Applications are due February 27, 2105. To view the Request for Application (sm-15-005) go to www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sm-15-005.