December 11, 2006—For Immediate Release New Science to Service Awards Will Honor Implementation of Evidence-Based Mental Health and Substance Abuse Interventions

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued a call for applications for its Science to Service Awards, a new national program that will recognize community-based organizations and coalitions that have shown exemplary implementation of evidence-based mental health and substance abuse interventions. The new awards program, which is part of SAMHSA’s mission to build resilience and facilitate recovery, will recognize and promote the rapid implementation of effective, evidence-based interventions that benefit consumers and communities.

A maximum of three awards will be made in each of four categories: substance abuse prevention, treatment of substance abuse and recovery support services, mental health promotion, and treatment of mental illness and recovery support services. To be eligible for an award, an organization must have successfully implemented a recognized evidence-based intervention, including those that are published in scientific literature and/or appear on a Federal and/or state registry of evidence-based intervention.

Both public sector (State, local territorial, tribal) and private sector organizations (including community-based organizations and/or coalitions) are eligible to compete for the awards. Developers of an evidence-based intervention, or their research collaborators, and Federal agencies are not eligible for the awards.

A total of four review panels will be convened, one in each of the four eligibility areas noted above. Each review panel will consist of seven national experts in the category, and will include representatives from key national organizations. All applications will be rated using the following four criteria: community need, sustainability, implementation, and results. Review panels will recommend for an award the top three scoring submissions in each of the four categories. SAMHSA’s Office of the Administrator and the agency’s Center Directors will review and approve award finalists. Finalists may also receive a site visit from one or more reviewers prior to the announcement of the award recipients. Submission of an application or selection as an award winner is not associated with any other current or future funding from SAMHSA or any other Federal agency. Complete information is available on the SAMHSA Web site at http://www.samhsa.gov/Spotlights/sciencetoservice.pdf

Applications must be emailed by February 28, 2007 to dfixsen@fmhi.usf.edu. For community organizations without access to email, the application must be postmarked by midnight on February 28, 2007 and mailed to Dean Fixsen, Ph.D., Science to Service Award Coordinator, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MHC 2312, Tampa, Florida 33612.

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SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health service delivery systems.