HHS awards nearly US$127.7M to expand certified community behavioral health clinics in US; the awards celebrate 60th anniversary of the Community Mental Health Act of 1963 that established community mental health centers and research facilities in the US

Signed by President John F. Kennedy on Oct. 31, 1963, the law established community mental health centers and research facilities across the United States 

Note to editors and reporters: Explainer video “What is a CCBHC? ” is available for download and use in reporting, courtesy of SAMHSA. 

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced that it has awarded $127.7 million to expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) across the country. These grant awards support the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to advance President Biden’s Unity Agenda to tackle the country’s mental health crisis and beat the opioid epidemic.

“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are transforming mental health and substance use treatment by providing equitable access to services for all Americans,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “After sixty years, the vision of the Community Mental Health Act of 1963, is being realized, and CCBHCs are making that possible.”

“CCBHCs have transformed how we provide behavioral healthcare in communities across the nation. There are now more options than ever for Americans struggling with mental health challenges or substance use disorder to get the help they need,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. “Thanks to the awards we are announcing today, more CCBHCs will be able to provide care to more Americans and make our communities stronger in the process.”

The awards announced today will work with provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) to expand access to the CCBHC model across the United States. Under BSCA, HHS will enable up to 10 additional states to create state CCBHC programs under Medicaid every two years starting in 2024, providing sustainable funding for CCBHC services to Medicaid beneficiaries.

The Community Mental Health Act of 1963, passed as part of John F. Kennedy's New Frontier, established a system of community-based care, instead of institutional care, across the U.S. for people with mental illness. Today’s announcement helps deliver on that promise by strengthening the care available in the community.

“CCBHCs serve anyone who asks for help for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, and in turn, people being served by CCBHCs experience less homelessness, less illegal substance use, and reduced use of jails, prisons, emergency rooms and hospitals for behavioral health issues,” said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “This is a model of care that truly works to serve the whole community.”

Today’s announcement, which was made at Chicago-based Thresholds Center for Mental Health Wellbeing, includes 128 grants to health clinics in 40 states and Puerto Rico. Each grantee will receive up to $1 million per year for four years. Of the 128, 63 grants totaling $62.8 million were awarded for the CCBHC Planning, Development, and Implementation (CCBHC-PDI) grant to assist clinics to establish and implement new CCBHC programs and 65 grants totaling $64.9 million were awarded for the CCBHC Improvement and Advancement (CCBHC–IA) grant to enhance and support existing CCBHCs. (Note to editors and reporters: A list of awards by state is provided at the end of this release.)

“The CCBHC model provides a funding structure to expand both the types of services we provide and the population we are able to serve,” says Mark Ishaug, CEO of Thresholds. "As a community mental health provider, we consistently see that the need for high-quality mental health services outstrips our capacity to provide them. The CCBHC model is an enormous step forward in our ability to truly meet the needs of our communities with integrated mental and physical healthcare.”  

CCBHCs were created to transform mental health and substance use treatment across the country and provide sustainable funding for robust community outpatient mental health treatment. These clinics are required to meet federal standards for the range of services that they provide. 

CCBHCs must serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use conditions, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age. They are required to provide a range of services, including crisis services that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and to provide routine outpatient care within 10 business days after an initial contact to prevent people from languishing on waiting lists. CCBHCs must also ensure access to a comprehensive range of services, providing care coordination when needed and incorporating evidence-based practices and other supports based on a community needs assessment.  

In 2017, the first CCBHCs were funded under Medicaid, with 67 operating in eight states. Today, there are more than 500 CCBHCs in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

Grants Awarded by State/Territory:

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.  

To learn how to get support for mental health, drug, and alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov. 

Anyone seeking treatment for mental health or substance use issues should call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) or visit findtreatment.samhsa.gov. 

Reporters with questions should send inquiries to media@samhsa.hhs.gov.