HHS Announces Its First-Ever Behavioral Health Recovery Innovation Challenge

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is announcing its first-ever behavioral health Recovery Innovation Challenge. The goal of this challenge is to identify innovations developed by peer-run or community-based organizations, and entities that may partner with them—such as local or state governments, health systems, hospitals, or health plans—that advance recovery. SAMHSA defines recovery as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. As President Biden said in his State of the Union address, we celebrate the 23 million Americans in recovery, and combating the opioid crisis that has touched so many Americans is a key element of the President’s Unity Agenda.

“Millions of Americans are living in various stages of recovery from mental health and substance use challenges, and whether they are beginning or continuing that journey, they deserve the most innovative and effective care and services available,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “SAMHSA’s Recovery Innovation Challenge will allow us to learn from the recovery service community about tools and techniques they’re using at the state and local level that need to be scaled nationwide.”

“We are excited to introduce SAMHSA’s first-ever Recovery Innovation Challenge and are eager to give voice to those doing innovative work in this space,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “By using this vehicle, we hope to gain a better understanding of effective and innovative recovery practices from a very diverse field. We aim to take what works for a small group and scale up to a larger population.”

READ MORE

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 USA

1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) | www.samhsa.gov