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National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention

SAMHSA

SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. In order to achieve this mission, SAMHSA has identified 8 Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency's work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The Agency was established in 1992 and directed by Congress to target effectively substance abuse and mental health services to the people most in need and to translate research in these areas more effectively and more rapidly into the general health care system. Over the years SAMHSA has demonstrated that - prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral health services improve health status and reduce health care and other costs to society. Continued improvement in the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services provides a cost effective opportunity to advance and protect the Nation’s health. View the video of SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde for more information about SAMHSA's current focus.

To accomplish its work SAMHSA administers a combination of competitive, formula, and block grant programs and data collection activities. The Agency’s programs are carried out through:

  • The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) which focuses on the prevention and treatment of mental disorders.
  • The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) which seeks to prevent and reduce the abuse of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
  • The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) which supports the provision of effective substance abuse treatment and recovery services.
  • The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) which has primary responsibility for the collection, analysis and dissemination of behavioral health data. More information about CBHSQ (formerly known as OAS).

Project LAUNCH is funded through CMHS as a key strategy for promoting an integrated approach to positive mental and physical health at the earliest stages of life. CSAP collaborates with CMHS to ensure that substance abuse prevention principles are reflected in mental health promotion. Project LAUNCH reflects SAMHSA’s mission (PDF, 3 MB) of building resilience and provides an example of how a broad-based public health approach can be used to promote mental health.

SAMHSA supports other initiatives that promote wellness in young children and their families including:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

SAMHSA’s FASD initiative is devoted to preventing and treating FASD. It’s mission is to facilitate the development and improvement of prevention, treatment, and care systems in the United States.
http://fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

The SAMHSA-sponsored National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day will be May 3, 2011—a day set aside for local, state, and national events to promote the positive development of infants, toddlers, children, and youth. Communities across the country observe the day with youth-focused events and a social networking campaign to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to increase understanding about the mental health needs of children and their families.
http://samhsa.gov/children/

Pregnant and Postpartum Women (PPW)

The Residential Treatment program for Pregnant and Postpartum Women (PPW) provides cost-effective, comprehensive residential substance abuse treatment services to women and their minor children that can be sustained over time.
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/files/SAMHDA/NTIES/NTIES-PDF/BIBLIOS/rwc99.pdf

Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS)

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) initiative encourages schools and communities to work in partnership to create safe and healthy school environments in which youth can learn and develop.
http://sshs.promoteprevent.org

Systems of Care

Systems of Care is an approach to services that recognizes the importance of family, school and community, and seeks to promote the full potential of every child and youth by addressing their physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural and social needs.
http://systemsofcare.samhsa.gov/