The American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) Mental Health Block grant (MHBG) and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) were signed into law on March 11, 2021, as a response to the impact of COVID-19 on mental illness and substance use disorders. States and providers can access the grants up to September 30, 2025, following SAMHSA guidelines for developing a funding plan.
ARPA’s funding has been instrumental in the development of 9-8-8 systems, expanded telehealth services, planning for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and many additional mental health/substance use disorder services. Still, the looming mental health and substance use crises require frontline workers to find local-level solutions to solve a national problem. With nearly 53 million adults living with a mental illness as of 2020 and nearly 20 million aged 12 or older with a substance use disorder in 2019, there is little doubt these crises have only grown in the wake of COVID-19.
Accordingly, The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) are a welcome addition to the funding provided by MHBG and SABG. Offering $350 billion to state, local and tribal governments to expand health care services, SLFRF can help you target these high-need areas with additional funds. Two areas of singular value to our industry and partners are explained below.
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Area 1 |
Area 2 |
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Behavioral health care, such as mental health treatment, substance use treatment and other behavioral health services: + Prevention, outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, crisis care, diversion programs, outreach to individuals not yet engaged in treatment, harm reduction and long-term recovery support |
Preventing and responding to violence Evidence-based practices for community violence intervention programs (especially those focused on behavioral therapy and trauma recovery) |
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Where We Can Help |
Where We Can Help |
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The Change Companies creates partnerships with justice systems (adult and juvenile), community behavioral health services, schools and addiction treatment/recovery providers. Through a curriculum-based approach and in-depth implementation training, we provide the resources to establish or enhance existing client-centered and evidence-based treatment. Explore our programming overview to learn more. |
Explore a few of our key curricula used in justice and treatment settings that address violence, trauma and behavioral health: KIDS MAT Traumatic Stress and Resilience (for men) and Trauma in Life (for women) |
SLFRF requires that funds be used for costs incurred on or after March 3, 2021. Costs must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and expended by December 31, 2026.
Need help navigating the nature of ARPA, MHBG, SABG and SLFRF? Let us know how we can support you by contacting your Regional Director.