Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration press release, December 22, 2005

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration VAvw.samhsa.gov An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services SAMHSA News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SAMHSA Press: Shelly Burgess 240-276-2130 December 22, 2005 www.SAMHSA.gov State of Maryland Receives More than $13.5 Million for Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator Charles Curie today announced the award of $13.5 million to Maryland over five years for a Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant to transform the state’s mental health system to reflect consumer and family needs and focus on facilitating recovery. Curie presented a symbolic “big check” to Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. during a ceremony in Annapolis. “This new grant will significantly advance the transformation agenda outlined in the federal action agenda for mental health care,” Curie said. “People with mental disorders have a vital role to play in our families, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our country. Their ability to participate fully can no longer be derailed by outdated science, outmoded financing systems, and unspoken discrimination.” “My Administration is deeply committed to empowering mental health providers to better care for their patients,” said Governor Ehrlich. “This important grant from SAMHSA is yet another step in that direction and builds on our considerable successes to date in providing the best mental health care possible in Maryland.” The Maryland award is part of $92.5 million awarded to seven states. The states that receive the awards, administered by SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services, will serve as platforms for learning about what strategies and activities do and do not work in transforming the states’ mental health and related systems. In partnerships with these states, SAMHSA will communicate successful strategies and activities to other states, territories, and tribes and tribal organizations in order to improve and accelerate transformation across the nation. Maryland’s grant - totaling $2,713,887 for the first year- will be used to facilitate deep and lasting change in the way services are delivered, in part by enhancing the already strong public-academic and public-private provider partnerships in the areas of evidence-based practices and by emphasizing a recovery-focused approach to service. The grants require the grantees to enlist consumers and family members as active partners in all transformation planning and activities. They also require grantees to take a life span approach to services and to provide a continuum of services including promotion, prevention, treatment, and recovery. SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation 's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health service delivery system.