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Behavioral Health Services implements an array of services through state and federal grant initiatives. There are currently four legislatively directed state initiatives funding community programs, and mental and behavioral health service providers targeting specific Texas populations. Additionally, there are several federally funded grant program services implemented under block grant, disaster grant, opioid response, and COVID-19 grant funding.
State-Funded Matching Grant Programs
HHSC’s matching grant programs support community mental health projects that provide services and treatment to people experiencing mental illness. There are four grant initiatives, as follows:
Community Mental Health Grant Program
The Community Mental Health Grant Program is designed to foster community collaboration, reduce duplication of mental health services, and strengthen continuity of care for people receiving services through a diverse local provider network. The design of each CMHG-funded project varies significantly. Many projects are designed to address coordination of mental health care and transition support services for people with mental illness. Other projects leverage existing resources to reduce duplication of effort and optimize existing strategies for effective clinical management of care.
Mental Health Grant for Justice-Involved Individuals
The Mental Health Grant for Justice-Involved Individuals was established to reduce recidivism rates, arrests, and incarceration among people with mental illness, and the wait time for people on forensic commitments. The program supports community grant programs by:
- Providing behavioral health care services to people with a mental illness encountering the criminal justice system; and
- Facilitating the local cross-agency coordination of behavioral health, physical health, and jail diversion services for people with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system.
Healthy Community Collaborative Program
The Healthy Community Collaborative Grant Program aims to build communities and collaboratives that bring together the public and private sector to support the recovery and housing stability of persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Grant Program
The Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Grant Program was created to improve the quality of life of Texas veterans and their families by supporting communities across the state to expand availability and access to mental health treatment and services. Funds are intended to be a catalyst for communities to develop and support sustainable partnerships, collaborative relationships, and coordinated service delivery systems that continue to operate after the life of a grant project.
Federal Grants
Federal grants may be categorized into two types: discretionary grants and block grants. Discretionary grants may be awarded at the discretion of the assigned federal agency, through a competitive review process, to states, local governments, universities, or various organizations, while block grants are noncompetitive, formula grants mandated by U.S. Congress that provide funding to qualifying states, territories or federally recognized tribes.
Introduction to Block Grants (PDF)
Public Comment Opportunity
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is seeking public comment on the 2024 Combined Mental Health Block Grant/Substance Use Prevention Treatment and Recovery Services Block Grant Application/Behavioral Health Assessment and Plan (PDF). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration requires states to submit this application every two years. Submit comments by completing this form (Excel) and emailing it to MHSUP Operations by August 25, 2023.
Community Mental Health Block Grant
This two-year federal block grant funds comprehensive community mental health services through contracts with local mental health authorities and local behavioral health authorities across the state. Funds are used to plan, carry out and evaluate related activities. Adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances are prioritized for state-funded treatment services that follow federal guidelines.
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant
This two-year federal block grant funds comprehensive substance use disorder prevention, intervention and treatment services through contracts with community organizations across the state. Funds are used to plan, implement and evaluate related activities. Pregnant injecting drug users, pregnant women and intravenous drug users are prioritized for state-funded treatment services to meet federal guidelines.
Disaster Response – Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program
After a presidential disaster declaration is made, a state may apply for federal grants, which are awarded to local mental health authorities, local behavioral health authorities or other providers (such as education service centers) in the impacted service area(s). The grants provide short-term interventions to people having psychological reactions because of the disaster.
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness
This annual federal grant provides funding to reduce or eliminate homelessness for people with serious mental illnesses or co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. The grant is specifically for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
State Opioid Response Grant
This is a two-year opioid response grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration that funds the behavioral health continuum of care, treatment and or recovery services. The strategies include medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, peer recovery coaching, disposal of prescription drugs, and overdose-related emergency response services.
Through the Texas Targeted Opioid Response program, the grant aims to address the opioid crisis by reducing unmet treatment need and opioid overdose-related deaths through its evidence-based programming.