Federal Block Grant

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Block Grant is a noncompetitive, formula grant mandated by the U.S. Congress. Eligible entities must submit an annual application to demonstrate statutory and regulatory compliance in order to receive the formula-based funding. SAMHSA is responsible for two block grant programs: Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG).

Grantees use the MHBG funds to provide comprehensive, community-based mental health services to adults with serious mental illnesses and to children with serious emotional disturbances and to monitor progress in implementing a comprehensive, community-based mental health system.

Grantees use the SABG funds to plan, implement, and evaluate activities that prevent and treat substance abuse and promote public health.

Grantees use the block grant programs for prevention, treatment, recovery support, and other services to supplement Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance services. Specifically, block grant recipients use the awards for the following purposes:

• Fund priority treatment and support services for individuals without insurance or for whom coverage is terminated for short periods of time.
• Fund those priority treatment and support services that demonstrate success in improving outcomes and/or supporting recovery that are not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance.
• Fund primary prevention by providing universal, selective, and indicated prevention activities and services for persons not identified as needing treatment.
• Collect performance and outcome data to determine the ongoing effectiveness of behavioral health promotion, treatment, and recovery support services.

The Behavioral Health Division at the Department of Human Services is required to submit the following to SAMHSA:

• A bi-annual plan for the MHBG and SABG (on odd years)
• An annual application including assurances, certifications and planned expenditures
• An annual report

The plan describes the public mental health and substance use disorder systems in Minnesota. In addition, it identifies needs, priorities, goals and indicators, and proposes uses of block grant funds.

The annual application, sometimes referred to as a mini-application, is a required application so that States can include updates in the following areas for SAMHSA:

• Assurances
• Certifications
• Planned expenditures
• Additional updates on the State’s Plan

Minnesota is required to submit annual reports for the combined MHBG and SABG on the previous year’s utilization of the grant funds, progress toward the goal targets, and data required for the federal Universal Reporting System Basic and Developmental Tables. The purpose of the annual reports is to provide updates and progress reports to SAMHSA for the following areas:

• State Information
• Annual Updates
• Expenditure Reports
• Population and Services Reports
• Performance Indicators and Accomplishments

FY 2022-2023 Block Grant Plan

The 2022-2023 Block grant plans are due to SAMHSA no later than September 1, 2021 by 11:59pm EDT.

FY 2023 Mini Application

States are required to submit an application for our Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) and Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) annually. The State of Minnesota submited a full application and plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 – 2023 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block Grants on September 1, 2021.The FY 2023 Mini Application is tentatively due Fall 2022.

FY 2022 Annual MHBG and SABG reports

States are required to submit annual reports for the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) and Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) by December of each year. The State of Minnesota submitted the 2021 MHBG and SABG Annual Reports on December 1, 2020. Currently, the 2022 Annual MHBG and SABG reports are due to SAMHSA no later than TBD by 11:59pm EDT. 

Minnesota works in collaboration with the State Advisory Council on Mental Health and Subcommittee on Children's Mental Health, the Minnesota Behavioral Health Planning Council, Minnesota Tribes and Public Input in drafting our plans, applications and reports.

To log in to Minnesota’s combined Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block Grant Assessment, Plan and Annual Reports, use the following information:

• Link to the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block Grants: https://bgas.samhsa.gov/
• Username: citizenmn
• Password: citizen
• Note: The exact Username and Password must be used. We suggest copying and pasting from above.

To view Minnesota’s Combined Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block Grant Applications, Plans and Reports

• Click on "View an Existing Application“
• Click on the “Report” or “Application” that you want to view
• Citizens can review Minnesota’s current and past applications and reports.

To read or print the entire application or report:

• Click the Print button to the right of your selection. This generates a PDF printout of the entire application or report. It also can create a copy in the Print Queue or
• Click on the link for a specific selection under Application Name and open each section separately.

Public input is sought in developing and updating the application on an ongoing basis. States are required to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the Combined Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block Grant plan during:

• Development of the plan
• After submission of the plan to SAMHSA

The plan must be public to facilitate comments from any person including:

• Federal
• Tribal
• Other public agencies

The Behavioral Health Division encourages interested persons/parties to review the application(s) and submit comments and suggestions to be considered. Please provide input in writing via our P.O. Box or e-mail:

Behavioral Health Division
Attention: Heron Abegaze
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64981
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0981