SAMHSA Headlines—Your one-stop source for the latest from SAMHSA.
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SAMHSA is accepting applications for Emergency Grants to Address Mental and Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19 (Emergency COVID-19). The purpose of this program is to provide crisis intervention services, mental and substance use disorder treatment, crisis counseling, and other related supports for children and adults impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will be provided for states, territories, and tribes to develop comprehensive systems to address these needs. The purpose of this program is specifically to address the needs of individuals with serious mental illness, individuals with substance use disorders, and/or individuals with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders.
SAMHSA plans to issue 60 grants of up to $2 million per State or up to $500,000 for Territories and Tribes for 16 months.
Application Due Date: Friday, April 10, 2020
SAMHSA's training, and technical assistance centers provide tools and resources to practitioners in the fields of mental health and substance use disorders.
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This guidance offers considerations aimed at decreasing the likelihood of infection and viral transmission and providing for the behavioral health needs of patients.
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The COVID-19 crisis has created an additional concern for those with alcohol use disorder, benzodiazepine use disorder, or other conditions that increase the risk of seizures.
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Persons with Serious Mental Illness that are served in outpatient treatment settings may be at elevated risk for acquiring Covid-19 and may have a more complicated course. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gives some specific guidance for outpatient facilities during the Covid19 emergency.
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In contrast to general healthcare settings, psychiatric facilities may have unique challenges in prevention and infection control for several reasons.
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This tip sheet describes resources that can be used to support recovery virtually from mental/substance use disorders. It also provides resources to help local recovery programs create virtual meetings.
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The Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information from unauthorized or impermissible uses and disclosures. This guidance addresses the release of protected health information for planning or response activities in emergency situations.
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While a prescription for a controlled substance issued by means of the Internet (including telemedicine) must generally be predicated on an in-person medical evaluation (21 U.S.C. 829(e)), the Controlled Substances Act contains certain exceptions to this requirement.
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The mission of Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA), Diversion Control Division is to prevent, detect, and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals and listed chemicals from legitimate sources while ensuring an adequate and uninterrupted supply for legitimate medical, commercial, and scientific needs.
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 SAMHSA is allowing flexibility for grant recipients affected by the loss of operational capacity and increased costs due to the COVID-19 crisis. These flexibilities are available during this emergency time period. Flexibility may be reassessed upon issuance of new guidance by the Office of Management and Budget post the emergency time period. The following information and resources are available to assist grant recipients during the COVID-19 emergency. Check this website for updates.
These FAQs address general questions associated with award and management of SAMHSA discretionary grants that may arise in relation to COVID-19. This information does not apply to SABG, MHBG, PATH or PAIMI grants. Applicants and grant recipients are strongly encouraged to monitor this website for updates.
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SAMHSA is accepting applications for Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support grants (Workforce Support). The purpose of this program is to implement evidence-based programs to support individuals in substance use disorder treatment and recovery to live independently and participate in the workforce. To achieve this objective, recipients must coordinate, as applicable, with Indian tribes or tribal organizations, state and local workforce development boards, lead state agencies responsible for a workforce investment activity, and state agencies responsible for carrying out substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs.
SAMHSA plans to issue 8 grants of up to $500,000 per year for up to 5 years.
Application Due Date: Monday, June 1, 2020
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SAMHSA is accepting applications for the State Opioid Response (SOR) grants. The program aims to address the opioid crisis by increasing access to medication-assisted treatment using the three FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder, reducing unmet treatment need, and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths through the provision of prevention, treatment, and recovery activities for opioid use disorder (including illicit use of prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl and fentanyl analogs).
SAMHSA plans to issue up to 59 grants of up to $1,420,000,000 for up to 2 years.
Application Due Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020
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SAMHSA is accepting applications for the Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants (ROTA). The purpose of this program is to develop and disseminate training and technical assistance for rural communities on addressing opioid issues affecting these communities. Training and technical assistance can also be geared toward addressing stimulant issues in these communities.
SAMHSA plans to issue 5 awards of $550,000 for up to 2 years.
Application Due Date: Friday, May 8, 2020
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SAMHSA is accepting applications for Tribal Opioid Response grants (TOR). The program aims to address the opioid crisis in tribal communities by increasing access to culturally appropriate and evidence-based treatment, including medication-assisted treatment using one of the three FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). In addition to focusing on OUD, recipients may also address stimulant misuse and use disorders, including cocaine and methamphetamine.
SAMHSA plans to issue 200 grants of up to $50,000,000 for up to 2 years.
Application Due Date: Monday, May 4, 2020
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SAMHSA is accepting applications for the Rural Emergency Medical Services Training grants (EMS Training). The purpose of this program is to recruit and train emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in rural areas. SAMHSA recognizes the great need for emergency services in rural areas and the critical role EMS personnel serve across the country.
SAMHSA plans to issue 25 grants of up to $200,000 per year for up to 1 year.
Application Due Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020
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SAMHSA is accepting applications for the State Pilot Grant Program for Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women (PPW-PLT). The purpose of the program is to enhance flexibility in the use of funds designed to:
- Support family-based services for pregnant and postpartum women with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder, including opioid use disorders;
- Help state substance abuse agencies address the continuum of care, including services provided to pregnant and postpartum women in nonresidential-based settings; and
- Promote a coordinated, effective, and efficient state system managed by state substance abuse agencies by encouraging new approaches and models of service delivery.
SAMHSA plans to issue 5 grants of up to $900,000 per year for up to 3 years.
Application Due Date: Monday, April 20, 2020
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This fact sheet for teens provides facts about stimulants. It describes short- and long-term effects, lists signs of use, and helps dispel common myths. It also can be used by prevention professionals, educators, health care providers, and others who come in contact with teens on a regular basis.
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This fact sheet for teens provides facts about HIV. It includes information about how the virus is spread and how to prevent transmission and answers common questions. It also can be used by prevention professionals, educators, health care providers, and others who come in contact with teens.
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 Tips for Teens: The Truth about Sedatives This fact sheet for teens provides facts about sedatives. It describes short- and long-term effects, lists signs of use, and helps dispel common myths. It also can be used by prevention professionals, educators, health care providers, and others who come in contact with teens on a regular basis.
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 Training and events are available for practitioners through many of SAMHSA's Training and Technical Assistance Centers. Some of these are highlighted below. Note that some of them require advance registration. Visit SAMHSA's Practitioner Training webpage for a more complete listing. Note: If you are unable to access an event or webinar or have questions, please contact the source given at the individual event URL.
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Monday, March 30 to Sunday, April 5
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW), an annual health observance week, connects teens with experts to SHATTER THE MYTHS® about drugs and alcohol, with more than 2000 local events every year.
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Thursday, April 2, 2020 12:00 p.m. EDT
This webinar will provide an in-depth examination of the stigma that women with substance use disorders (SUDs) who are pregnant and/or parenting encounter when seeking healthcare services. Strategies to reduce barriers related to stigmatizing attitudes and practices will be addressed.
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Friday, April 3, 2020 10:00 a.m. EDT
This webinar will review common psychological reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of this pandemic on family, friends, and collegial relationships. The importance of resilience in the face of this adversity will be underscored. Several effective coping strategies will be reviewed:
- Taking care of self,
- Fostering and re-inventing wellness,
- Managing stress/anxiety,
- Staying connected,
- Promoting teamwork, and
- Navigating existential concerns.
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Friday, April 3, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
This session highlights the major psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabinoids, how they may affect the human body, how they may interact with other medications, and how the significantly increased delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in modern cannabis plants may be of greater risk to those with pre-existing conditions, including cognitive or psychiatric disorders. Participants will learn about the evidence-based therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, as well as their risks, so that they may translate the material presented in this session into usable information for their own communities.
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Friday, April 3, 2020 4:00 p.m. EDT
Educators can experience compassion fatigue as they care for students experiencing difficulties expressing their emotions in healthy and productive ways. In this webinar, participants will learn the benefits of a practice of mindful compassion on wellbeing, how to practice mindful compassion to cultivate strong school communities, and how to practice self-compassion to enhance resiliency and combat compassion fatigue.
Future webinars in this series include:
- Supporting Educator Wellbeing: Wellness Tips to Help you S.O.A.R. (4/24/2020)
- Trying to Change that Negative Loop of Self-Criticism and Perfectionism? Mindfulness Practices Can Help! (5/15/2020)
- Cultivating a Practice of Gratitude and Appreciation in your School Community (6/3/2020)
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Friday, April 3, 2020 1:00 PM EDT
This webinar will identify stressors particular to the Hispanic and Latino population that can be exacerbated during quarantine as a result of infectious disease outbreaks. This webinar will also cover stress management tools during a stressful event such as a pandemic for mental health providers to use with their Hispanic and Latino clients. Special considerations for Latino youth mental health will be also provided.
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Friday, April 3, 2020 2:00 p.m. EDT
Spiritual leaders from American Indian and Alaska Native communities come together to discuss the importance of spirituality in the treatment of behavioral health and mental health disorders. Spirituality is often left out of counseling and therapeutic relationships, but is an essential part of healing and change for many clients.
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Monday, April 6, 2020 11:00 a.m. EDT
As peer support specialists seek to offer digital peer support quickly and effectively across the United States, it is important that they—and their organizations—know the practical aspects of using digital peer support to deliver support services. This presentation covers topics including the latest scientific developments on digital peer support and presents guidelines and emerging best practices to support service users through remote and telehealth technologies.
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Monday, April 6, 2020 3:00 p.m. EDT
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses as well as homelessness.
In addition, there will be weekly meetings held on Mondays at 3:00 p.m. EDT. The goals of the meetings are to:
- Connect with one other;
- Share strategies and resources for adapting team practices and communications; and
- Facilitate connection to the most up-to-date resources during the COVID-19 outbreak.
There is also a Virtual Discussion Forum to help organize information, resources, and strategies used across teams. You can participate in the forum as a guest, or sign up as a member
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Tuesday, April 7, 2020 11:00 AM EDT This online series will support behavioral health providers who are new to using telehealth. During each hour-long session, specialists will spend the first 20 minutes addressing a specific topic, then answer questions submitted by TLC Tuesday registrants. Recordings of the 20-minute presentations, as well as additional resources will be posted on the web as they become available. Future sessions include: April 14: Telehealth Tools
April 21: Telehealth with Children and Adolescents
April 28: Telehealth Troubleshooting
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Tuesday, April 7, 2020 10:00 a.m. EDT
The first hour will introduce prevention approaches for building resilience with individuals and across communities. In addition to the typical roles for clinicians in building support for recovery, participants learn strategies for strengthening inclusive communities that foster a sense of belonging for everyone. The second hour will address how to leverage relationships between clinicians, the women they serve, and their children. This overview will introduce the current evidence for healthy families through a developmental lens. Taking this perspective allows clinicians to be more deliberate in fostering understanding, building strength, and increasing resilience.
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Tuesday April 7, 2020 4:00 p.m. EDT
This 7-week distance learning series offers participants a unique, interactive experience to explore how to develop a sustainability plan. This learning series incorporates online consultation, skill-based learning and practice, self-study and reading assignments, group activities, and discussion designed to guide participants through each of the five critical components of sustainability planning.
Session dates are listed below:
- Session 1 - April 7, 2020
- Session 2 - April 14, 2020
- Session 3 - April 21, 2020
- Session 4 - April 28, 2020
- Session 5 - May 12, 2020
- Session 6 - May 19, 2020
- Session 7 - May 26, 2020
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Tuesday, April 7, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
This webinar series will introduce participants to recovery from Serious Mental Illness and many of the evidence-based and promising practices that support recovery. This session focuses on supervision of peer providers.
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Tuesday, April 7, 2020 1:30 p.m. EDT
This course is being offered in a webinar format via WebEx (i.e., non-visual whereby the PowerPoint slides will be seen; facilitator and participants will not be seen). As provider organizations rapidly shift to telehealth services to accommodate social distancing, there is a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty around best practices for engaging clients via these mediums. Participants will review strategies for preparation, as well as skills to employ during, and following remote counseling conversations.
Note: This webinar is offered again on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
Participants in this session will learn recommended best practices for assessing children and adolescents for suicide and initiating appropriate response to youth experiencing thoughts of suicide in a K-12 school setting.
Other webinars in the series include:
- Part Two: World Class Resources to Discover Genetic Risks for Suicide Death – April 15, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Part Three: School-Based Suicide Prevention Interventions for K-12 Population – April 22, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Part Four: Crisis Response Planning for Suicidal Patients: an Introduction – April 29, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Part Five: Suicide Interventions and Response for Youth Experiencing Series Emotional Disturbance (SED) – May 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Part Six: Suicide Prevention and Interventions for Transition Age Youth on College Campuses – May 13, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
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Wednesday, April 8, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
This webinar is part 5 in a five-part series, and it will focus on historical trauma and PTSD. The series focuses on Native veterans, including a historical overview that delves into the history of Native Americans in the military, historical trauma, PTSD, suicide approaches to assessment and treatment, traditional beliefs and healing practices, and most importantly honoring self through Native American teachings and wisdom.
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Thursday, April 9, 2020 11:00 a.m. EDT
Lawmakers have developed, enacted, and applied a variety of policy strategies that target society- and community-level influences to reduce underage drinking and its associated consequences. This webinar will highlight Social Host Liability Laws aimed at decreasing social access to alcohol by underage youth and deterring underage drinking parties.
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Thursday, April 9, 2020 1:30 p.m. EDT
This session will focus on the emergent pandemic and the impact it is having on college students' mental health and wellbeing. Topics covered include:
- Ways we can successfully support students' mental health needs remotely;
- Coping strategies for adapting to a new normal; and
- Techniques for supporting social connectedness during a time of social distancing and educational disconnect.
Session 2 will take place on Monday, April 13, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
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Thursday, April 9, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
The Peer Support Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (PS ECHO) is a movement to share knowledge, and amplify capacity to provide best practices. The PS ECHO is an online community for Peer Recovery Specialist and Mental Health Peers to:
- Share community and statewide resources;
- Learn new skills and tools for doing peer work; and
- Meet and connect with other peers.
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Thursday, April 9, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
This two-part series will examine the unique challenges that 16-24 year olds with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders face as they transition out of the school-based or youth service system and into adulthood. Part 1 will discuss Young Adult Peer Mentoring and describe how using it in a therapeutic process can enhance this population's engagement, motivation, and persistence.
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Friday, April 10, 2020 12:00 p.m. EDT
This is Section 2 of a multi-part series. The structure and process of bringing on Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) staff should be carefully considered before beginning the recruitment process. The objectives of this webinar are to:
- Outline recruitment and hiring practices (develop job description, essential skills, recruitment processes, compensation, etc.);
- Demonstrate onboarding (orientation, job shadowing, determining workload, etc.); and
- Prepare for PRSS integration (build rapport, HIPAA and information sharing, EHR, etc.).
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Friday, April 10, 2020 12:30 PM EDT
During this 90-minute webcast, experts in the fields of intimate partner violence, service provision for immigrant and refugee communities, and trauma will provide an overview of the issues confronting immigrant women survivors of IPV at the local, state, and national levels. They will also discuss best practices for restoring and promoting resilience in times of uncertainty.
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Friday, April 10, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
This interactive webinar will review contributing risk factors for substance use and mental illness, and its impact on diagnosis and treatment. Content will inform on validated tools used for screening substance use. Further, content will instruct on how facilitating brief interventions (Screening, Brief Interventions, Referral to Treatment, SBIRT), that are culturally and linguistically appropriate as well as trauma informed, can help address at-risk substance use in clinical and non-clinical environments, and facilitate patient centered care and support.
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Monday, April 13, 2020 12:00 p.m. EDT
Difficult moments don't have to grow into 'incidents' that threaten client engagement and retention. This interactive two-part webinar is designed to equip peers, counselors, social workers, anyone working with people with concepts and preparatory actions that can be used to de-escalate a wide range of interactions.
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Monday, April 13, 2020 3:00 p.m. EDT
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses as well as homelessness. These meetings will be held weekly on Mondays at 3:00–4:30 p.m. EDT. The goals of the meetings are to:
- Connect with one other;
- Share strategies and resources for adapting team practices and communications; and
- Facilitate connection to the most up-to-date resources during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2020 6 p.m. EDT
Commemorative activities and memorialization in schools present opportunities for students and staff to take an active role in constructing an enduring memory related to a crisis event and to honor those whose lives were lost. As such, they can be important to help promote adjustment and recovery. This session will review key considerations for planning commemorative and memorial activities in school settings.
Note: There will be two more webinars in this series on efforts for schools to be held May 28, 2020 and August 4, 2020.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 11:00 a.m. EDT
On the third Wednesday of each month, there will be a series of interactive calls via Zoom for people who want to enhance their motivational interviewing (MI) skills. This learning opportunity provides practitioners with a no-cost, easy to access opportunity to continue to build their practice skills towards fidelity.
Topics by date:
- April 15: WHY Not Ask WHY and Other Things to Think About with Open Questions
- May 20: Taming Your Inner Cheerleader: Be Proud Of You and How Well You Can Use Affirmations
- June 17: Gold Star Things to Say (Genuinely!)
- July 15: What to Do When the Client Says Something about Changing Their Behavior
- August 19: What to Do When the Client Seems Stuck About Changing Their Behavior
- September 16: Pay Attention to Discord
- October 21: Guess What Happens When You Ask for Change Talk?
- November 18: TBD
- December 16: TBD
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 1:30 p.m. EDT
This presentation will describe the real-world experience of one community in a rural state (Iowa) in enhancing their crisis services. This webinar will be more of a case study of one community's process of expanding their crisis services, highlighting some of the successes and how those were navigated, as well as some ongoing challenges.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 2:00 p.m. EDT
This is the fifth webinar in a series devoted to Creating Trauma-Responsive Schools. This webinar will address the impact of traumatic stress on educators and strategies to prevent and mitigate it. This webinar will teach educators and other school staff about signs and symptoms of burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
This is Part Two of Six in the Webinar Series: Suicide Prevention across the Educational Continuum. This presentation will give an update on research progress and how results may impact the future of prevention and treatment. Other webinars in this series include:
- Part Three: School-Based Suicide Prevention Interventions for K-12 Population – April 22, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Part Four: Crisis Response Planning for Suicidal Patients: an Introduction – April 29, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Part Five: Suicide Interventions and Response for Youth Experiencing Series Emotional Disturbance (SED) – May 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Part Six: Suicide Prevention and Interventions for Transition Age Youth on College Campuses – May 13, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 11:00 a.m. EDT
This four-part webinar series shares information and discusses applications that practitioners and others can use to help engage and activate individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders in person-centered treatment and services. Part 3 will provide an overview of common approaches to person-led relapse and crisis planning approaches including safety plans, relapse prevention/management plans, and Psychiatric Advance Directives.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 12:00 p.m. EDT
This is part one of a two-part webinar. Peer Advocates play an important part in substance use treatment. There are also some challenges for them. This two-day webinar will focus on Professional Boundaries for Peer Advocates. It will include the Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct. There will be lectures, exercises, and interactive discussions.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 12:30 p.m. EDT
This webinar will share how Coalitions or Collaborations in any size community can enhance their outreach, engagement and prevention efforts, with a focus on hard-to-reach audiences. These strategies and tactics will help them grow their presence in both digital (online) and grassroots (offline) spheres to educate communities and to mobilize partners and stakeholders, increasing both impact and effectiveness of their opioid prevention and reduction efforts.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
Continuing the webinar series on MRT–Moral Reconation Therapy®–this webinar will focus on the details involved in implementing MRT within drug courts. Attendees will have the opportunity to view a video of a Mock MRT Group, with MRT Trainers playing group participants attending a meeting.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 1:00 p.m. EDT
The provider workforce is not presently equipped to routinely engage in productive and guiding discussions about sexuality and intimacy with persons living with behavioral health conditions. Missed opportunities have great implications for prevention with a population more likely to be infected with HIV, hepatitis B and C, experience intimate partner violence, and contend with co-morbid substance use disorders. This webinar highlights the contents of a training toolkit that employs the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in experientially teaching providers the skills of MI and the practice of having conversations about sexuality and intimacy.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 3:00 p.m. EDT
These are overwhelming times. Stress, anxiety, fear, loss, and grief–all part of ordinary life–are exponentially heightened in this time of pandemic. How do we name what we're experiencing? How do we stay healthy in body, mind, and spirit? How do we keep gentleness and compassion alive for self and others? Please join us in exploring these questions together.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 6 p.m. EDT
In this webinar, participants will learn about the findings and resources available in the recently released SAMHSA resource guide Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults. This guide was developed to support health care providers, systems, and communities seeking to prevent substance misuse among young adults.
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Thursday, April 16, 2020 12 p.m. EDT
Peer Advocates play an important part in substance use treatment. There are also some challenges for them. This two-day webinar will focus on Professional Boundaries for Peer Advocates. It will include the Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct. There will be lectures, exercises, and interactive discussions.
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