Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS) will receive a total of $287,194 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program. This funding is part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), and is in addition to the more than $4 million Maine DHHS will receive in Fiscal Year 2023 through the MHBG program.

"Mental health remains a critical component of overall community health," said Senators Collins and King. "This funding will help to enhance our state's capacity to address mental health challenges effectively while helping to ensure that every individual in our state has access to the support they need.”

The MHBG program supports grantees in carrying out plans for providing comprehensive community mental health services. Specific targeted populations include adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances.

Senators Collins and King were key supporters of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation that protects America’s children, keeps our schools safe, and reduces the threat of violence across our country. The legislation included an expansion of children and family mental health resources and school-based mental health and supportive services.