Behavioral Health Services Block Grants

The Department of Behavioral Health administers both the Community Mental Health Services (MH) and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery (SUPTRS) Block Grants from the Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Block Grants fund agency programs, community-based organizations to help improve the quality of behavioral health services by supporting activities that encourage and enhance evidence-based practices, quality improvement, and good consumer outcomes. Grant funding also assists activities that promote the values of recovery, resiliency, and cultural competence. The grant award is for two years.

The biennial combined block grant application for MH and SUPTRS serves as the District of Columbia’s state plan for providing mental and substance use disorder services for the upcoming year. It also outlines the system of care for adults, children, and families, and includes performance indicators. Consumers, clients, family members, community providers and DBH partners are encouraged to comment on the plan.

To review the most recent version as well as past applications and reports related to the MH and SUPTRS Block Grants, District of Columbia residents can access WebBGAS at https://bgas.samhsa.gov. District residents may register as a “citizen user” as required by SAMHSA (SAMHSA, SABG & MHBG Navigation Manual for State Users, 12/28/2020). If any DC resident has questions or experiences issues with WebBGAS, contact the WebBGAS Help Desk at [email protected] or 1-888-301-2427.

A draft PDF version of the FY 2024-2025 MH and SUPTRS Combined Application is also provided below.

In addition to the combined Block Grant Application, States are required to prepare and submit an annual report that includes expenditure summaries for (1) the state fiscal year (SFY) immediately preceding the federal fiscal year for which the state is applying for funds; and (2) the obligation and expenditure period of the SUPTRS Block Grant and MHBG Behavioral Health Report.

The Annual Reports will address the purposes for which the Block Grant funds were expended, the Block Grant sub-recipients, and the authorized activities funded, and services purchased with such funds.

At this time, the Expenditure tables are not complete, but will be completed prior to submission and posted.

All States are required to prepare and submit their respective Block Grant Annual Reports utilizing SAMHSA’s Web Block Grant Application System (BGAS). Annual reports must be received by SAMHSA no later than December 1.

The Department of Behavioral Health welcomes comments from the public. Please direct feedback on both the MH and SUPTRS Block Grants, at any time to Toussaint Tingling-Clemmons at [[email protected]].

Click links for the documents below:

FY 2024-FY 2025 MH and SUPTRS Combined Application (draft 1)
FY 2024-FY 2025 MH and SUPTRS Combined Application (draft 2)
FY 2018-FY 2019 MHBG and SABG Combined Application (revised)
FY 2020-FY2021 MHBG and SABG Combined Application FY 20-21 Final Version.pdf
FY 2018-FY2019 Mental Health Block Grant Application (revised)
FY 2018-2019 Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Application (draft)
FY 2016-FY-2017 Mental Health Block Grant Application
FY 2016-FY 2017 Mental Health Block Grant Application Revisions
FY 2016-FY 2017 Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Application
FY 2016-FY 2017 Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Application Revisions