HHS Announces Dramatic Increase in Funding to Expand the Availability of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Across the Nation

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are a Proven Model for Improving Care Systems

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is announcing two Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) funding opportunities to expand and increase access to evidence-based mental health and substance use services for all Americans. This includes providing essential mental health services—such as 24-hour mobile crisis teams, screening, and case management—to vulnerable communities that would otherwise lack access to services. Totaling more than $300 million, these funding opportunities reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitments to addressing the nation’s mental health crisis and overdose epidemic as part of the President’s Unity Agenda.

The CCBHC model is transforming behavioral health systems one community at a time. Since its inception, Congress has invested billions of dollars into SAMHSA’s CCBHC grants, including $420 million in American Rescue Plan funding.

The two CCBHC grant programs are:

• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic – Planning, Development, and Implementation (CCBHC-PDI) grants will assist clinics to establish and implement new CCBHC programs.
• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic – Improvement and Advancement (CCBHC–IA) grants will support existing CCBHCs to enhance and improve their programs.

For these two programs, SAMSHA anticipates funding a combined estimated $312 million over four years for up to 156 awards for each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in FY 2022.

“The investment into this program underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthening the mental health of all Americans,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Improving health outcomes, especially in vulnerable communities, is an urgent priority.”

“Over the past several years, CCBHCs have been instrumental in transforming behavioral health care in their respective communities,” said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “But we know now that much more support is needed to ensure that everyone who needs help can access care when and where they seek it.”