Attachment 5 - Transmittal Letter

Page 3

Dear Commissioner:

You are invited to submit a State application for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (BG) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2008. The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is pleased to offer funding to support comprehensive community-based systems of care for adults with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and children with serious emotional disturbances (SED). A copy of the FY 2008-2010 Mental Health Block Grant MHBG Application Guidance and Instructions is enclosed to assist you with your application (Enclosure 1).

As SAMHSA/CMHS continues to move forward with its charge to transform the nation’s mental health system, we have taken the opportunity to include transformation language in the new guidance. Transformation, as a guiding principle in the development of State plans, is integrated into the statutorily mandated criteria for children and adults. States are asked to identify transformation activities funded by the MHBG and other State funding sources. Additionally, to ensure that consumers and family members are engaged in mental health transformation, the Guidance requires States to describe activities of the Mental Health Planning Council (MHPC) that contribute to the State’s transformation efforts. A State-specific transformation outcome measure is to be included in the plan as well as a description of services to older adults (criterion four).

In the past three to five years, SAMHSA partnered with States to find ways to assess outcomes for people striving to attain and sustain recovery, build resilience, and participate fully in their communities. As a result nine mental health domains, or National Outcome Measures (NOMS), were identified for States to report annually to CMHS through the MHBG Program. Since 2003, all of the States and Territories have reported on some or all four required measures, and States are now asked to report on the remaining five measures in FFY 2008. Two of the added five measures are considered developmental and require further guidance, which CMHS will provide to States under separate cover. States that are unable to report the added NOMS or the Uniform Reporting System (URS) Tables are to complete the State Level Data Reporting Capacity Checklist located on the NASMHPD Research Institute (NRI) website: http://www.nri-inc.org/SDICC/defsdicc.cfm.

SAMHSA/CMHS encourages States via the Web Block Grant Application System (WebBGAS) to submit its FY 2008 applications. WebBGAS was introduced in FY 2005 to reduce the paperwork burden in applying for block grant funds. In FY 2007, 36 States and Territories used WebBGAS.

FY 2008 - 2010 Application Guidance and Instructions

SAMHSA/CMHS developed the Application Guidance and Instructions with consultation from State mental health planners, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), and the National Governors Association. The MHBG Guidance for FY 2008 - 2010 is the first year of the three-year cycle of OMB approval; States are allowed to submit multi-year plans for FY 2008.

Information on Allotment Amounts

States are asked to submit their FY 2008 applications based on the FY 2007 Allotment Table that is provided in Enclosure 2. If necessary, States should plan to amend the application once a final appropriation is made and the MHBG allotment is received.

Consultative Regional Peer Review

States are asked to discuss their FY 2008 applications and modifications at the consultative regional peer review. State staff and MHPC members are expected to speak to the contents of the application and progress towards transformation, as well as respond to questions from the review panel.

The Regional Consultative Peer Reviews for FY 2008 are scheduled on the following dates:

Northeast: October 10, 11, & 12

Midwest: October 17, 18, & 19

Southwest: October 30, 31, &, November 1

West: November 6, 7, & 8

Southeast: November 28, 29, & 30

Implementation Reports for FY 2007

The FY 2007 MHBG Implementation Report should provide sufficient information to determine the extent to which the State accomplished its prior year’s plan. The legislation mandates a reduction in State allotment when the State’s plan is not fully implemented within the reporting year.

Submission of Application and State Plan

The State’s FY 2008 application is due no later than Tuesday, September 4, 2007. Since September 1 falls on Saturday, the application is due the first work day following the weekend and holiday. The implementation report for FY 2007 is due no later than Monday, December 3, 2007. If the application and implementation report are not received in the Office of Grants Management by these dates, the State will not receive a grant for the year indicated.

Hard copies of State applications should be mailed to:

Regular Mail

LouEllen Rice, Grants Management Officer

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Division of Grants Management, OPS

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 7-1091

Rockville, Maryland 20857

Overnight & Express Mail

LouEllen Rice, Grants Management Officer

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Division of Grants Management, OPS

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 7-1091

Rockville, Maryland 20850

For additional information related to fiscal management of the block grant, please contact Ms. Rice at (240) 276-1404. Federal project officers may be contacted at: (240) 276-1760.

Sincerely yours,

Joyce T. Berry, Ph.D., J.D.

Director

Division of State and Community

Systems Development

Center for Mental Health Services

cc: State Planners

Mental Health Planning Council Chair

Grants Management Office

Enclosures:

1. 2008-2010 Block Grant Application Guidance and Instructions

2. 2007 Allotment Table