Project LAUNCH

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2012 for Cooperative Agreements for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health (Project LAUNCH). The purpose of Project LAUNCH is to promote the wellness of young children from birth to 8 years by addressing the physical, social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects of their development. The goal of Project LAUNCH is to create a shared vision for the wellness of young children that drives the development of Federal, State, Territorial, Tribal and locally-based networks for the coordination of key child-serving systems and the integration of behavioral and physical health services. The expected result is for children to be thriving in safe, supportive environments and entering school ready to learn and able to succeed. Project LAUNCH is grounded in the public health approach, working towards coordinated programs that take a comprehensive view of health, addressing the physical, emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral aspects of well-being. The public health approach addresses the health needs of the population rather than only addressing the health problems of individuals. Project LAUNCH seeks to improve outcomes at the individual and community levels by addressing risk factors that can lead to negative outcomes. Project LAUNCH simultaneously promotes protective factors that support resilience and healthy development which can protect individuals from later social, emotional, cognitive, physical and behavioral problems; including early substance and alcohol use. A major objective of this grant program is to strengthen and enhance the partnership between health and mental health at the federal, State/Territorial/Tribal, and local levels. Project LAUNCH seeks to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities through this program by encouraging the implemention of strategies to decrease the differences in access, service use, and outcomes among the racial and ethnic minority young children and families served. SAMHSA has demonstrated that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. SAMHSA has identified eight Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on people and emerging opportunities. More information is available at the SAMHSA website: http://www.samhsa.gov/About/strategy.aspx. Project LAUNCH is part of the Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness strategic initiative, which aims to support communities where individuals, families, schools, faith-based organizations, and workplaces take action to promote emotional health and reduce the likelihood of mental illness, substance abuse including tobacco, and suicide. This Initiative will include a focus on the Nation’s high-risk youth, youth in Tribal communities, and military families. Project LAUNCH cooperative agreements are authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD. States, Territories, and Tribes will select a local pilot community within the larger jurisdiction to be a partner in Project LAUNCH. States, Territories, and Tribes will bring together child-serving organizations to develop policies, financial mechanisms and other reforms to improve the integration and efficiency of the child-serving system.

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