We are proud to inform you that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced last week the winners of 17 federal grants that will fund new assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) programs over the next four years. The grantees include diverse communities from across the nation. Each award is an opportunity to ensure better outcomes for individuals with severe mental illness who struggle to stay engaged in treatment.
These grants would not be possible without the tireless efforts of Treatment Advocacy Center supporters like you.
When the Treatment Advocacy Center presented the idea for the grant program to the White House and Congress in 2013, you wrote letters, shared our social media posts and joined us in meetings with lawmakers to help make this vision a reality.
Thank you.
The impact of those efforts is obvious in the successes of the first round of grantees from 2016. SAMHSA compared participant data from before and during AOT and found steep declines in hospitalization, incarceration and homelessness. An impressive 92% of participants surveyed said they appreciated the services they received under AOT.
“Such positive outcomes point to an exciting and successful future for the next round of grantees. With each grant, we take another step forward in our mission to ensure that timely and effective treatment is available to everyone with severe mental illness, regardless of their ability to volunteer for care,” said Brian Stettin, policy director at Treatment Advocacy Center.
There is still more work to be done, but with your continued support, we will keep fighting for people with severe mental illness and their families.
