Washington, DC—The District of Columbia Department of Mental Health and the State Mental Health Planning Council issued a Notice of Funding Availability and Request for Projects for funding consideration under the FY 2014-FY 2015 Mental Health Block Grant. The Notice of Funding Availability and the Request for Projects can be found at http://dmh.dc.gov/page/community-mental-health-services-block-grant.

Proposed projects should reflect the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) focus on behavioral health—mental health and substance use disorder—primary health, or the SAMSHA eight strategic initiatives. Those initiatives are 1) prevention of substance abuse and mental illness 2) trauma and justice 3) military families 4) recovery support 5) health reform 6) health information technology 7) data, outcomes and quality and 8) public awareness and support.

Projects must be from District based, nonprofit organizations, individuals or non-incorporated groups, or District colleges or universities with special projects that meet the guidelines. Evaluation criteria include justification of need for grant funds, soundness of proposed service delivery plan, adequacy and reasonableness of proposed resources required, and demonstrated capacity managing the proposed project. The State Mental Health Planning Council which serves as an advisory body to the Mayor and to the Mental Health Department makes recommendations for the use of block grant funds.  Project grants range from $5,000 to $20,000, and just 5 percent of the total project budget can be spent on administrative costs.The block grant is for a two year period.

Responses to the Request for Projects are due January 8, 2013. Project proposals can be emailed to [email protected] and/or [email protected]. All approved projects are contingent upon receipt and availability of funding. 

A list of past grantees can be found at http://dmh.dc.gov/page/community-mental-health-services-block-grant, click on the annual block grant application and go to the Adult-Grant Expenditure Manner section. Questions about the Request for Proposals must be submitted in writing to [email protected] and/or [email protected].