Description
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2010 funds for Access to Recovery (ATR) grants. The ATR grants provide funding to Single-State Substance Abuse Agencies in the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, Tribes and Tribal organizations to carry-out voucher programs for substance abuse clinical treatment and recovery support services pursuant to sections 501(d)(5) and 509 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. sections 290aa(d)(5) and 290bb-2). This program addresses Healthy People 2010 focus area 26 (Substance Abuse). The Access to Recovery (ATR) Program is designed to provide client choice among substance abuse clinical treatment and recovery support service providers, expand access to a comprehensive array of clinical treatment and recovery support options (including faith-based programmatic options), and increase substance abuse treatment capacity. Monitoring outcomes, tracking costs, and preventing waste, fraud and abuse to ensure accountability and effectiveness in the use of Federal funds are also important elements of the ATR program. Through the ATR grants, the Single-State Substance Abuse Agencies in the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, Tribes and Tribal Organizations (hereinafter collectively referred to as SSAs/Tribes/Tribal Organizations) will have flexibility in designing and implementing voucher programs, consistent with proven models, to meet the needs of clients in their target regions. A major goal of the ATR program is to ensure that clients have a genuine, free, and independent choice among a network of eligible providers. SSAs/Tribes/Tribal Organizations are encouraged to develop provider networks that offer an array of clinical treatment and recovery support services that can be expected to result in cost-effective, successful outcomes for the largest number of people. Current and former ATR grantees, as well as entities that have not received an ATR grant and that meet the eligibility criteria, may apply. (See Section III-Eligibility Information for additional information about eligibility for the ATR program.) Current grantees must propose to enhance or expand efforts in the proposed geographic area, client population, services provided, or any other component that was not included in previous grant(s). Applications from previously funded ATR grantees will be subject to evaluation of past performance (GPRA client targets and use of funds as planned in the program budget), among other review criteria (See Section I-2-Expectations and Appendix M of this RFA). As of February 2009, approximately 1.89 million men and women have been deployed to serve in support of overseas contingency operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Individuals returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are at increased risk for suffering post-traumatic stress and other related disorders. Experts estimate that up to one-third of returning veterans will need mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and related services. In addition, the family members of returning veterans have an increased need for related support services. To address these concerns, SAMHSA strongly encourages all applicants to consider the unique needs of returning veterans and their families in developing their proposed project.