[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 155 (Monday, August 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46634-46636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18473]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Proposed Matching Requirements for Specific SAMHSA Discretionary 
Grant Funding Opportunities

    Authority: Sections 509, 516, and 520A of the Public Health 
Service Act.
AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HHS. 
The PHS Act states the Secretary may require non-Federal matching funds 
to ensure the institutional commitment to

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the projects funded under grant through cash or in kind donations from 
public or private entities including plant, equipment, or services.

ACTION: Notice of proposed matching requirements for specific SAMHSA 
discretionary grant funding opportunities.

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SUMMARY: In fiscal year 2009, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMHSA) plans to require matching funds for 
some discretionary grant funding opportunities within the Programs of 
Regional and National Significance as described in the President's 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Budget Request. This notice describes the 
specific FY 2009 funding opportunities for which matching is proposed. 
We understand that some grantees could experience initial difficulty 
with the matching requirements. The goal of this solicitation is to 
seek comment so that we can design these activities to assist grantees 
in lessening these challenges over time.

DATES: Submit written comments on this proposal within 60 days from the 
date of publication.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
SAMHSA proposed matching requirements to Shelly Hara, Office of Policy, 
Planning and Budget, SAMHSA, by fax (240) 276-2220 or by e-mail 
([email protected]). Please include a phone number in your 
correspondence so that SAMHSA staff may contact you if there are 
questions about your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shelly Hara, OPPB, SAMHSA, by fax 
(240) 276-2220 or e-mail ([email protected]). If you would like a 
SAMHSA staff person to call you about your questions, please state this 
in your correspondence and provide a telephone number where you can be 
reached between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SAMHSA has found that matching requirements 
assist grant communities in sustaining activities over the long term, 
help communities leverage resources (i.e., increasing the impact of 
grant-funded activities), and promote sustainability beyond the term 
for which Federal grant funding is provided. The FY 2009 President's 
Budget for SAMHSA includes matching requirements for several of 
SAMHSA's discretionary grant programs. Through matching requirements, 
grantees in these programs may be required to match the Federal dollars 
of the grant award with their own funds and resources. This could 
include cash and/or in-kind contributions from State and local 
government, foundations, private non-profit and/or for-profit 
organizations. See below for a description of each program and the 
proposed matching requirements.
    Although matching requirements have not been used extensively in 
SAMHSA's discretionary grant programs, statutory matching requirements 
in certain SAMHSA grant programs have yielded some promising results 
with regard to sustainability and leveraging resources:
     A sustainability study of grantees funded between 1993 and 
1995 through the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment's (CSAT's) 
Residential Women and Children and Pregnant and Postpartum Women (RWC/
PPW) program found that a majority of grantees met with some success in 
sustaining their programs in one form or another beyond the end of 
Federal funding. The study identified several factors that were 
positively associated with sustainability. A match requirement may 
encourage grantees to engage in some of these activities, including 
early and careful planning for sustainability and developing 
relationships with other potential funders.
     The Center for Mental Health Services' (CMHS') 
Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children program, 
which funds interagency, community-based systems of care, requires that 
grantees provide matching funds through a graduated approach, with an 
increasing match requirement over time. For example, in the fifth and 
sixth year of the grant, matching is not less than $2 for each $1 of 
Federal funds. Some grantees have reported that matching requirements 
contribute to community sustainability efforts for systems of care. For 
sites funded in 1993 and 1994 and assessed for sustainability five 
years after funding, 80% of sites achieved sustainability.
    SAMHSA understands that some Tribes and smaller organizations and 
communities may have some difficulties in meeting initial match 
requirements. However, we have included some alternatives to address 
these challenges, such as seeking a postponement of the matching 
requirement in the first year, with an increased match in the following 
year. Matching elements help ensure current efforts are continued in 
the future.
    When matching requirements are included in a program, grantees must 
provide non-Federal funds in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated to match 
the Federal funds provided through the grant award. The specific rate 
of the match varies from program to program and may vary over time. 
Matching funds must meet the same test of allowability as costs charged 
to Federal grants. Sources of matching funds include State and local 
governmental appropriations (non-Federal), grants awarded by 
foundations, and funding provided by other private non-profit or for-
profit organizations. In-kind contributions may include facilities, 
equipment, or services used in direct support of the project.
    SAMHSA is seeking comment on a proposed 20% matching requirement 
(i.e., $2 for every $10 in Federal grant funds) for the first year with 
a graduated match in the succeeding years for the following programs in 
the FY 2009 President's budget:
     A new Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) 
Targeted Capacity Expansion program to help communities address 
emerging prevention needs identified by States and local communities. 
It is expected that $7 million of Federal funds could support 14 new 
grants to be awarded to local governments, community-based 
organizations, and tribal entities. These grants are expected to expand 
or enhance a community's ability to provide rapid, strategic, 
comprehensive, and integrated prevention programs, practices, and 
strategies to specific, well-documented emerging needs.
     A new Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Targeted 
Capacity Expansion program to help communities address emerging mental 
health needs identified by local communities. It is expected that $7.3 
million of Federal funds could support 14 new grants to be awarded to 
State governments, local governments, communities, and tribal entities. 
These grants are expected to expand or enhance a community's ability to 
provide rapid, strategic, comprehensive, and integrated responses to 
specific, well-documented mental health capacity problems, including 
technical assistance.
    The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) Screening, Brief 
Intervention, Referral, and Treatment (SBIRT) program for States, 
territories, Federally recognized Tribes and tribal organizations. The 
SBIRT program has been in existence since FY 2003. The purpose of the 
program is to integrate screening, brief intervention, referral, and 
treatment services within general medical and primary care settings.
    SAMHSA also seeks public comment on the following questions related 
to the matching requirements:

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     What benefits would you expect as a result of including a 
matching requirement in the programs listed above?
     How will the matching requirement increase the 
sustainability of the grant projects funded through these programs?
     How will the matching requirement increase the services 
supported through the grant projects funded through these programs?
     What other benefits can be expected?
     What challenges would you anticipate as a result of 
including a matching requirement in the programs listed above? What 
suggestions do you have to help minimize those challenges?
--How would the benefits and challenges of the matching requirement 
change if the matching requirement were higher (e.g., 25% in year 1 and 
increasing in subsequent years)?
--What is the highest point at which the match would be supportable for 
you/your organization?
--At what level (i.e., percent of the grant) would the cost of a 
matching requirement become a barrier to applying for a grant from 
SAMHSA?
     As an applicant, would you be interested in a provision 
that would allow you to choose to defer the matching requirement in the 
first year of the grant, with an offsetting increased match in later 
years of the grant? What are the benefits and challenges of such an 
approach?
     What other options for a matching requirement (e.g., 
different percentages) would you recommend that SAMHSA consider?

Toian Vaughn,
Public Health Analyst, Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Services 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-18473 Filed 8-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P