Notice2023-23805
Reorganization of the Center for Mental Health Services
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 30, 2023
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Abstract
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has modified its structure. This new organizational structure was approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on October 11, 2023, and became effective on October 26, 2023.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 208 (Monday, October 30, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 208 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74199-74200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23805]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Reorganization of the Center for Mental Health Services
AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration has modified its structure. This new organizational
structure was approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on
October 11, 2023, and became effective on October 26, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tison Thomas, Deputy Director, Center
for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, Room 14E51, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: 240-276-2896.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Part M of the SAMHSA Statement of
Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for HHS at 71 FR
19740, April 17, 2006, is amended to reflect changes of the functional
statements for the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). This
amendment reflects the addition of two new divisions.
President Biden, in his Unity Agenda, has underscored the utmost
significance of providing mental health services to Americans who need
it. HHS also seeks to provide innovative mental health treatment and
recovery services for individuals suffering from serious mental illness
(SMI) and children with serious emotional disturbances (SED). There has
been a substantial increase in funding, which has provided over 2,600
grants and around 25 technical assistance centers to cater to mental
health treatment and recovery services.
CMHS has taken the lead in addressing the mental health needs of
Americans, focusing primarily on suicide prevention, developing and
supporting a crisis continuum, improving children's mental health,
school-based activities, and increasing access to and the quality of
services through Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and
evidence-based practices. However, despite these efforts, new
innovations, research, and other treatment activities have not reached
all those who are in need of mental health services. The proposed
reorganization takes into account these and other factors, including
the scope and span of grants and function, subject matter areas, age
group focus (children versus adults), and geographic focus (community
versus state).
In order to enhance administrative and operational efficiencies,
CMHS proposes that each division within the center should have two
branches consisting of approximately 20 to 25 staff members in each
newly-formed division. Currently, the two divisions consist of branches
that have a different mission/focus. Having the divisions reorganized
based on topic areas will assist with excellence in grant and contract
administration. As a result, CMHS proposes to add two new divisions,
which will create five divisions with two braches in each division. The
new divisions are: Division of Children and School Mental Health
(DCSMH) and the Division of Suicide Prevention and Community Supports
(DSPCS).
Division of Children and School Mental Health
The realigned DCSMH will focus on children, youth, and young adults
with SED or those who are at risk of developing SMI. The realigned
division will be created by moving two existing branches from the
Division of Trauma and Behavioral Health (DTBH). DTBH currently has two
other branches that focus on disaster behavioral health and traumatic
stress. The two branches in DCSMH will be, the Child Adolescent and
Family Branch (CAFB) and the Mental Health Promotion Branch (MHPB).
This new division will help CMHS have dedicated leadership focusing on
children's mental health issues. The following major grant programs
within these two branches align with the new division's mission.
CAFB primarily focuses on providing services for children, youth,
and young adults with and/or at risk for SMI and/or SED. The CAFB
programs aim to support these individuals and their families by
improving mental health outcomes. The branch manages the Comprehensive
Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional
Disturbance (Children's Mental Health Initiative or CMHI), authorized
under Sections 561 through 565 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA),
42 U.S.C. 290ff through 290ff-4, and provides grants to expand and
sustain services for children and youth, birth through age 21, who are
at risk for or have SED. The Clinical High Risk for Psychosis program
is a set-aside of CMHI, and the most recent authorization was included
in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328. The
branch also has a few additional grants through the Projects of
Regional and National Significance (PRNS) and contracts.
The MHPB primarily focuses on mental health promotion and early
intervention programs. The MHPB programs include infant and early
childhood mental health (Section 399Z-2 of the PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 280h-6),
Trauma-Informed Services in Schools (Section 7134 of Pub. L. 115-271,
42 U.S.C. 280h-7), mental health awareness training (Section 520J of
the PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 290bb-41), and the Center of Excellence for Eating
Disorders (Section 520N of the PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 290bb-45). Additionally,
the MHPB oversees Project AWARE, authorized under Section 520A of the
PHSA 42 U.S.C. 290bb-32 (PRNS) and Section 520B of the PHSA 42 U.S.C.
290bb-33 (student suicide prevention piece), which includes specific
provisions for mental health initiatives and student suicide prevention
training. The branch also has a few additional grants through the PRNS
and contracts.
Division of Suicide Prevention and Community Supports
The realigned DSPCS will focus on community-based grants and
suicide prevention programs. The proposed division will be created by
moving two of the existing branches from the Division of Community
Behavioral Health (DCBH). DCBH has two other branches., the
Comprehensive Services and Integration Branch and the Comprehensive
Services and Systems Branch. The two branches that will be in the DSPCS
will be the Suicide Prevention Branch (SPB) and the Community Support
Programs Branch (CSPB). Having these two branches within a new division
will give an added focus on suicide prevention and community based,
evidence-based grant programs. The major grant programs within these
two branches are as follows.
SPB plays a crucial role in suicide prevention efforts. The Garrett
Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Program is authorized under Section
520E-2 of PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 290bb-36b, while the Garrett Lee Smith State/
Tribal Suicide Prevention Program is
[[Page 74200]]
authorized under Section 520E of PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 290bb-36. The Mental
Health Crisis Response Partnership Pilot Program is authorized under
Section 520F of the PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 290bb-37. The National Strategy for
Suicide Prevention grant program is authorized under Section 520L of
PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 290bb-43, and the Zero Suicide initiative is codified
under the same citation. The branch also has few additional grants
through the PRNS and contracts.
CSPB focuses on developing effective community-based treatment and
recovery support services for individuals with serious mental illness.
The programs within this branch include, the Assertive Community
Treatment Grant Program, authorized under Section 520M of the PHSA, 42
U.S.C. 290bb-44, the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Grant Program for
Individuals With SMI, authorized under Section 224 of the Protecting
Access to Medicare Act, 42 U.S.C. 290aa-17, focuses on assisting
individuals with SMI in accessing necessary outpatient treatment. The
CSPB also oversees grants for the benefit of homeless individuals,
authorized under Section 506 of the PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 290aa-5, and the
Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion
program, authorized under Section 520G of the PHSA, 42 U.S.C. 290bb-38.
The branch also has few additional grants through the PRNS and
contracts.
Delegations of Authority
All delegations and redelegations of authority to officers and
employees of SAMHSA which were in effect immediately prior to the
effective date of this reorganization shall continue to be in effect.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3101.
Xavier Becerra,
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-23805 Filed 10-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 30, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.