Opportunity Information: Apply for SM 18 006
Project AWARE - States (also referred to as AWARE-SEA) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. It was designed for State Educational Agencies to either build new capacity or expand what they already have in order to better support student mental health in school settings. The program is rooted in the idea that schools are often where mental health needs first show up and where early identification and timely support can make a real difference in student wellbeing, school safety, and long-term outcomes.
At its core, the grant focuses on three connected goals. First, it aims to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues among school-aged youth, helping schools and communities recognize that mental health challenges can affect learning, behavior, attendance, and relationships. Second, it prioritizes training for school personnel and other adults who regularly interact with students so they are better prepared to notice warning signs, respond appropriately, and use consistent, evidence-informed approaches when concerns arise. Third, it emphasizes building stronger pathways to services by connecting students who may have behavioral health needs, including serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental illness (SMI), and their families to appropriate supports and treatment. In practice, that means moving beyond one-off trainings and toward workable referral systems and partnerships that actually help students access care.
A major theme of Project AWARE - States is collaboration across state and local systems. Applicants are expected to pursue the work through active partnerships between State Educational Agencies, State Mental Health Agencies that oversee services for school-aged youth, and local education agencies. The grant encourages coordinated planning and implementation so that policies, school practices, and community-based services align rather than operating in silos. SAMHSA also signals that this work should contribute to youth violence prevention by promoting healthy development, improving school climate, and ensuring adults know how to respond when students show signs of distress or risk.
The program supports development and execution of a comprehensive plan that may include activities, services, and strategies intended to reduce youth violence while strengthening protective factors and resilience. It draws on lessons from the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative, which emphasized integrated approaches that combine safe learning environments with accessible mental health supports. In that spirit, Project AWARE - States encourages closer coordination between state-level policy efforts and local implementation, and it supports creation of integrated systems that foster safe, respectful environments for learning while promoting student mental health.
From the funding details provided, this opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number SM 18 006 and CFDA 93.243, categorized as a health-related grant. The application window opened on April 4, 2018, with an original closing date of June 4, 2018. The award ceiling was $1,800,000, and SAMHSA anticipated making about 23 awards. Eligibility is noted as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," but the program description makes clear that State Educational Agencies are the intended lead applicants, operating in partnership with state mental health leadership and local school districts.
Overall, Project AWARE - States is essentially a capacity-building grant aimed at helping states and school systems take a more coordinated, proactive approach to student mental health. It centers on awareness, practical training for the adults students encounter every day, and stronger connections to needed services, all while promoting safer, more supportive school environments and better collaboration between education and mental health systems.Apply for SM 18 006
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Project AWARE - States" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.243.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 04, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 04, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 23 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Project AWARE - States (AWARE-SEA) FAQs
What is Project AWARE - States (AWARE-SEA)?
Project AWARE - States (also called AWARE-SEA) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. The program is designed to help State Educational Agencies build new capacity or expand existing capacity to better support student mental health in school settings.
Which federal agency offers this grant?
This grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), specifically SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to strengthen how states and school systems identify student mental health needs early, support students effectively in school settings, and connect students and families to appropriate behavioral health services. It is rooted in the idea that mental health needs often first show up in schools and that early identification and timely support can improve student wellbeing, school safety, and long-term outcomes.
What are the core goals of Project AWARE - States?
The grant centers on three connected goals:
- Increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues among school-aged youth and how these issues can affect learning, behavior, attendance, and relationships.
- Provide training for school personnel and other adults who regularly interact with students so they can recognize warning signs, respond appropriately, and use consistent, evidence-informed approaches.
- Strengthen pathways to services by improving connections and referrals to appropriate supports and treatment for students who may have behavioral health needs, including serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental illness (SMI), and their families.
What types of activities does the program emphasize?
Based on the description provided, the program emphasizes moving beyond one-off trainings toward practical, workable systems. That includes consistent training approaches, stronger referral pathways, and partnerships that help students access care. It also supports development and execution of a comprehensive plan that may include activities, services, and strategies intended to reduce youth violence while strengthening protective factors and resilience.
How does the grant approach training for school staff and adults who work with students?
The program prioritizes training for school personnel and other adults who regularly interact with students so they are better prepared to notice warning signs, respond appropriately, and apply consistent, evidence-informed approaches when concerns arise.
Does the program focus only on awareness trainings?
No. While increasing awareness is a core goal, the description emphasizes strengthening real pathways to services. That includes building referral systems and partnerships so students and families can actually access appropriate supports and treatment.
Who is supposed to lead an application for this opportunity?
The program description indicates that State Educational Agencies are the intended lead applicants. The eligibility field is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," but the narrative clearly frames State Educational Agencies as the lead entities.
What partnerships are expected under Project AWARE - States?
A major theme is collaboration across state and local systems. Applicants are expected to pursue the work through active partnerships between:
- State Educational Agencies
- State Mental Health Agencies that oversee services for school-aged youth
- Local education agencies (local school districts)
The intent is coordinated planning and implementation so that policies, school practices, and community-based services align rather than operating in silos.
How does the grant relate to youth violence prevention?
SAMHSA signals that this work should contribute to youth violence prevention by promoting healthy development, improving school climate, and ensuring adults know how to respond when students show signs of distress or risk. The program also supports strategies intended to reduce youth violence while strengthening protective factors and resilience.
What is meant by building "capacity" in this grant?
In this context, capacity-building refers to helping State Educational Agencies and their partners build new capability or expand what they already have to support student mental health. That includes improving awareness, training, referral pathways, and coordination between education and mental health systems.
Does the opportunity reference any related initiatives or models?
Yes. The description notes that the program draws on lessons from the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative, which emphasized integrated approaches combining safe learning environments with accessible mental health supports.
What kind of plan does the program support?
The program supports development and execution of a comprehensive plan that may include activities, services, and strategies to strengthen protective factors and resilience, improve coordination, and reduce youth violence while promoting student mental health and supportive learning environments.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is SM 18 006.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.243.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as a health-related grant opportunity.
When did the application window open and close?
The application window opened on April 4, 2018. The original closing date was June 4, 2018.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed was $1,800,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
SAMHSA anticipated making about 23 awards.
What student populations or needs are highlighted?
The description highlights school-aged youth and emphasizes connecting students who may have behavioral health needs, including serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental illness (SMI), and their families to appropriate supports and treatment.
What is the overall focus of Project AWARE - States?
Overall, the program is a capacity-building effort to help states and school systems take a more coordinated, proactive approach to student mental health. It centers on awareness, practical training for the adults students encounter every day, and stronger connections to needed services, while promoting safer, more supportive school environments and improved collaboration between education and mental health systems.
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