The State of Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced $32-38 million grant dollars available to fund substance abuse, crisis, prevention and mental health programs throughout the state.
The funding can be used to fill identified gaps in crisis stabilization programs, crisis response teams or other similar identified community needs.
Nevada is seeking applications from public, private, tribal or nonprofit organizations who are legally registered to conduct business and a host of other requirements available in the funding document.
The funding does not require a partner match and applicants must define one priority area per application but there is no limit on the number of applications any entity submits for consideration.
The programs and services may serve individuals with any of the following issues: serious mental illness, early serious mental illness, first episode psychosis, severe emotional disturbances, substance use disorder, co-occurring disorders, dual diagnosis, individuals in crisis, etc.
The funding available is specifically geared toward increasing access to screening, assessment, intervention, prevention, treatment and recovery support across the state with urgency.
The funding opportunity will be on a rolling-deadline and remain open until all existing funds are depleted or until December 23, 2021.
Applications expanding access to existing services with the ability to provide services and support within two months of receiving funding will be prioritized, with programs including new lines of services of programs expected to begin services no later than three months after receiving funding.
Funds may be used to support services for underserved individuals without insurance, underinsured, or for whom coverage is periodically terminated, as well as for those not covered by other insurance programs including Medicaid and Medicare.
The funds are from the Community Mental Health Block Grant and the Community Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency (SAPTA) Block Grant as authorized as part of the Public Health Service Act and includes fiscal year 2021 block grant dollars added through the COVID-19 Supplemental and the American Rescue Plan (ARPA).
The funding opportunity provides Nevada the opportunity to focus on specific needs in the state to address gaps in the behavioral health delivery system and crisis services focusing on services, which has been determined to be a weakness in rural counties y by professionals throughout the industry and community leaders due to the rural location and limited resources.
“Nevada has seventeen counties with only three being identified as urban,” said DHHS in its funding statement. “The remaining counties are defined as rural and frontier counties, which further challenges the behavioral health system with the large geographic areas and limited services and lack of public transportation.”
According to Mental Health America’s (MHA) 2020 State of Mental Health in America report, Nevada currently ranks 47th (includes U.S. Territories) in the nation overall for Adults with Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year, a ranking that indicates a high prevalence of substance use disorder or co-occurring and low levels of access to behavioral health care.
“With recent public health challenges brought on by COVID-19, there is a magnified need for a unified approach and organized system for managing crisis,” said DHHS. “COVID-19 and the restrictions put in place throughout the state and country has had an impact on behavioral health, especially substance use.”
At a national level, a recent survey indicated that an increasing number of individuals reported experiencing nervousness, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness. The economic impacts of COVID have resulted in lost wages, revenues, lay-off, and economic uncertainty for many and have led to housing insecurity statewide for individuals and families.
Funding can be used for programs and services for adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and children with Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED), adults or youth with SUD, and/or those with co-occurring behavioral health conditions, depending on the funding source.
Eligible grant projects are not to exceed a two-year program period with projects anticipated to begin on or after January 1, 2022.
The funding is not for the continuation of existing programs which are funded under other program dollars.
