·Federal program
SAMHSA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG)
Federal block grant to states and territories for comprehensive community mental health services for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and children with serious emotional disturbance (SED). States set service designs within federal requirements and may distribute funds to local government entities and non-governmental organizations; caregiver-relevant services must be discovered at the state/local provider layer.
What it offers
MHBG makes funds available to all states, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and six Pacific jurisdictions for comprehensive community mental health services. SAMHSA defines the target populations as adults age 18 or older with serious mental illness and children up to age 18 with serious emotional disturbance. Grantees submit plans for community mental health services, report annually, and may distribute funds to local governments and non-governmental organizations. For caregiver routing, MHBG is a framework source: state mental health authorities and local behavioral health providers determine whether family support, psychoeducation, crisis stabilization, respite-adjacent, or peer services are available locally. Use SAMHSA and state mental health authority resources for local access.
Questions that decide eligibility
GiveCare prepares the questions; the program makes the decision. Bring these to the call or the application:
- 01
Does the VA disability rating meet the program’s minimum (our record lists null%)?
- 02
Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists null hours)?
- 03
Is there a caregiver-specific department, coordinator, or support line? Ask for it by name.
Many agencies have one that isn’t advertised on the website.
- 04
What documents do you need from us to start an application?
- 05
Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?