Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services-Access to Recovery
sections 290aa(d)(5) and 290bb-2).
This new program, called Access to Recovery (ATR), is part of a Presidential
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, States, Territories, the District of Columbia and Tribal Organizations (hereinafter collectively referred to as "States") will have flexibility in designing and implementing voucher programs to meet the needs of clients in the State.
The key to successful implementation of the voucher programs supported by the ATR grants will be the relationship between the States and clients receiving services, to ensure that clients have a genuine, free, and independent choice among eligible providers.
States are encouraged to support any mixture of clinical treatment and recovery support services that can be expected to achieve the program's goal of achieving cost-effective, successful outcomes for the largest number of people.
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2007 25 awards were funded. It is estimated that 24 awards will be funded in fiscal year 2008.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds (including direct costs and indirect costs) may be used only for expenses clearly related and necessary to carry out approved activities.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligibility for Access to Recovery (ATR) grants is limited to the immediate office of the Chief Executive (e.g., Governor) in the States, Territories, District of Columbia; or the head of a Tribal Organization.
(A "Tribal Organization" means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe or any legally established organization of Indians, including urban Indian health boards, inter-tribal councils, or regional Indian health boards, which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such an organization.) The Chief Executive of the State, Territory, or District of Columbia, or the head of the Tribal Organization must sign the application.
Eligibility is limited to the immediate office of these Chief Executives because only they have the authority to leverage funding across the State, implement the necessary policy changes, manage the fiscal responsibilities, and coordinate the range of programs necessary for successful implementation of the voucher programs to be funded through these grants.
No more than on application from any one Chief Executive or head of a Tribal Organization will be funded.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Eligibility for Access to Recovery (ATR) grants is limited to the immediate office of the Chief Executive (e.g., Governor) in the States, Territories, District of Columbia; or the head of a Tribal Organization" means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe or any legally established organization of Indians, including urban health boards, inter-tribal councils, or regional Indian health boards, which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such an organization.)
Credentials/Documentation
The Chief Executive of the State, Territory, or District of Columbia, or the head of the Tribal Organization must sign the application.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
A letter of intent from prospective applicants is requested by early March of the fiscal year.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Applications must comply with the following requirements, or they will be screened out and will not be reviewed: Use of the PHS 5161-1 application; Application submission requirements in Section IV-3 of this document; and Formatting requirements provided in Section IV-2.4 of this document. Applicants may request a complete application kit by calling SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) at 1 (800) 729-6686. Applicants also may download the required documents from the SAMHSA Web site at www.samhsa.gov . Click on "grant opportunities." PHS 5161-1 (revised July 2000)-Includes the face page, budget forms, assurances, certification, and checklist. Applicants must use the PHS 5161-1. Applications not submitted on the PHS 5161-1 will be screened out and will not be reviewed. Request for Applications (RFA)-Includes instructions for the grant application. This document is the RFA.
Award Procedures
None.
Deadlines
Please contact program office for application deadline. Please not that applications received after the deadline date must have a proof-of-mailing date from the carrier dated at least one (1) week prior to the due date. Private metered postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely mailing. Applicants will be notified by postal mail that the application has been received. Applications not received by the application deadline or postmarked by a week prior to the application deadline will be screened out and will not be reviewed.
Authorization
Sections 501(d)(5) and 509 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 290aa(d)(5) and 290bb-2, Public Law 106- 310.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 90 - 120 days.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Applications will be accepted for a project period of 1 to 3 years with 12-month budget periods. Annual awards will be made subject to continued availability of funds and progress achieved.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No more than quarterly.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No A-133 entities that receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more in a year shall have an audit made in accordance with A-133.
Records
There is a 3-year records retention requirement; records shall be retained beyond the 3-year period if final audit has not been done or findings resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-1362-0-1-550.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 $103,956,661; FY 08 est $95,962,645; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$103,956,661 to $95,962,645; $95,962,645.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
45 CFR Parts 74 and 92 and the HHS Grant Policies.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
CSAT Contact: Jack Stein (240)276-2950 and George Gilbert; Telephone: (240) 276-1681; 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857; Telephone: (240) 276-1575. Grants Management contact: Kathleen Sample, Division of Grants Management, SAMHSA, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857; Telephone: (240) 276-1407; Fax: (240) 276-1430; E-mail: kathleen.sample@samhsa.hhs.gov .
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
SAMHSA applications for this program are peer-reviewed according to the review criteria listed above. For those programs with an individual award of over $100,000, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment National Advisory Council also must review application. Decisions to fund a grant are based on: Strengths and weaknesses of the application as identified by the Peer Review Committee and approved by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment National Advisory Council. Availability of funds. Balance among the geographic regions of the United States, different models for implementing the voucher programs (see Program Requirements, in Section I.), and the use of effective approaches to address those with special needs (e.g., homeless populations, people with co-occurring disorders, people living in rural areas, etc.) Evidence that funds will be distributed through a voucher mechanism that guarantees clients genuine, free, and independent choice among eligible clinical treatment and recovery support providers, among them at least one provider to which the clients has no religious objection. Evidence that the applicant has addressed the standards for grantees outlined in appendix C of the RFA. Evidence the applicant will increase capacity for recovery support services. In the event of a tie among applicant scores, the following method will be used to break the tie: Scores on the criterion with the highest possible point value will be compared (Extent to Which Proposed Project Meets ATR Goals-30 points). Should a tie still exist, the evaluation criterion with the next highest possible point value will be compared, continuing sequentially to the evaluation criterion with the lowest possible point value, should that be necessary to break all ties. If an evaluation criterion to be used for this purpose has the same number of possible points as another evaluation criterion, the criterion listed first in Section V-1 will be used first.
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
Prisons and Social Enterprise
Getting Out and Staying Out, co-founded by Tony Smith of the VSA Consulting Group, works to reduce recidivism rate among men at Rikers Island, New York City. The recidivism rate significantly dropped from 60-plus percent to under 20 percent, with more than a thousand men over a span of eight years.
