Behavioral Health Integration Initiative | HHS 2017 IHS BH2I 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2017 IHS BH2I 0001

The Behavioral Health Integration Initiative (BH2I) is an Indian Health Service (IHS) discretionary grant opportunity designed to strengthen how behavioral health and primary care work together for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. At its core, the grant aims to improve both physical and mental health outcomes for people experiencing behavioral health challenges by building an integrated, coordinated system of care. The initiative directly supports the IHS mission of raising the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of AI/AN people, with an emphasis on practical, on-the-ground improvements inside IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Organization (I/T/U) health facilities.

A central focus of BH2I is expanding the capacity of clinics and health programs to deliver behavioral health services in a more connected, whole-person way, rather than treating mental health, substance use, and physical health as separate silos. The grant encourages integration that includes trauma-informed care and also recognizes the role of nutrition, exercise, social supports, spiritual care, and culturally grounded services alongside medical and primary care. The underlying idea is that stronger coordination across these areas can reduce preventable illness and deaths, while also improving day-to-day functioning and overall quality of life for individuals and families impacted by mental illness, substance use disorders, and adverse childhood experiences.

BH2I promotes improvements across the full spectrum of behavioral health services. That includes routine screening for mental health and substance use conditions, with explicit attention to serious mental illness, alcohol and substance use disorders, opioid use disorder, suicidality, and trauma exposures such as interpersonal violence, physical abuse, and adverse childhood experiences. Beyond screening, the grant emphasizes assessment (including risk assessment and diagnosis), patient-centered treatment planning, and access to evidence-based outpatient treatment for mental and substance use disorders. Treatment may involve both pharmacological and psychosocial approaches. The opportunity also highlights the importance of crisis services, peer support, and care coordination, reflecting an expectation that successful integration requires both clinical services and the operational ability to connect patients to the right level of care at the right time.

Another key element of the initiative is flexibility around models of care. IHS notes that Tribal communities and service sites face different realities, resources, and constraints, so integration may look different depending on local needs and capabilities. Even with that flexibility, funded approaches are expected to improve clinical processes and workflow across multidisciplinary teams, helping behavioral health and primary care staff operate as a coordinated unit. The grant is intended to support sites that have identified service gaps and have begun building the connections needed to close them, including programs pursuing new or innovative ways to coordinate across different operational structures, such as between federally operated and tribally operated health services.

In terms of expected results, BH2I is aimed at increasing access to integrated health and social well-being services, improving early identification and early intervention for mental health and substance use concerns, and strengthening detection and response to serious physical health issues, including chronic disease. The initiative also seeks to generate practical learning about what integration models work best in AI/AN health systems by identifying and assessing unique needs, as well as the real-world challenges, barriers, and successes that occur during implementation. Overall, the program anticipates measurable improvements in patient health for people participating in integrated care programs.

Administratively, the opportunity is a grant (Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2017-IHS-BH2I-0001) under CFDA 93.933, offered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, and certain other applicants as specified in the full eligibility language. The award ceiling listed is $500,000, with an anticipated 12 awards. The opportunity was originally posted on Aug 15, 2017, with an original closing date of Sep 16, 2017.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Behavioral Health Integration Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.933.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 15, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 16, 2017. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2017 IHS BH2I 0001

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