Reorganization of the Center for Mental Health Services, 74199-74200 [2023-23805]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 208 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74199-74200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23805]


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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.

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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

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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