SAMHSA Grant: State-Sponsored Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention

• Federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations (as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act), or urban Indian organizations (as defined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act) that are actively involved in the development and continuation of a tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategy.

• Public or private non-profit organizations designated by a state, federally recognized Indian tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization, to develop or direct the state/tribal-sponsored youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategy.
No single state agency is mandated to be the lead for State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Program grants, as states differ in which state agency has taken the lead for suicide prevention (e.g., Department of Health, Department of Mental Health). Where states have a plan that designates a lead agency, that agency should act as the lead or should designate an alternative lead for State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program. If the state plan does not designate a lead agency, justify the selection of the lead agency for this application. Although only one agency should be the lead, inclusion of all youth-serving agencies is expected.
States and/or tribes who have been previous recipients of the State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Program award who do not currently have a grant are eligible but are required to address how this grant award will build on and/or expand the work of the earlier grant awards and not simply continue what was done previously.
The statutory authority for this program prohibits grants to for-profit agencies.

SAMHSA has demonstrated that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral health services improve health status and reduce health care and other costs to society. Continued improvement in the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services provides a cost effective opportunity to advance and protect the nation’s health. To continue to improve the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services, SAMHSA has identified eight Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The State and Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention grants closely align with SAMHSA’s Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Strategic Initiative. More information is available at the SAMHSA website: http://beta.samhsa.gov/about-us. The State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grant program will address the prevention of suicides and attempted suicides among populations at high risk, especially military families, youth, and AI/AN, as well as the expected impact on behavioral health disparities. (See Appendix J: Addressing Behavioral Health Disparities).

The Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grants are authorized under Section 520E of the Public Health Service Act, as amended and are financed in part by 2014 Prevention and Public Health funds (PPHF-2014). This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD.
The State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Cooperative Agreements Program is one of SAMHSA’s services grant programs. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the 4th month of the project at the latest. SAMHSA expects grantees to work collaboratively with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.