Project AWARE

Project AWARE

link to page 1

August 23, 2023
Project AWARE
Background
(Figure 1). This model includes universal mental health
Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in
promotion for all students, early intervention for students at
Education) is a school-based mental health grant program
high risk for problems, and treatment for students with
administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
more intensive needs. More specifically, in Tier 1 of this
Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department
model (primary prevention and mental health promotion),
of Health and Human Services (HHS). Project AWARE is
schools implement teacher trainings and/or broad school
carried out through SAMHSA’s general authorities in Title
climate or classroom interventions that promote mental
V of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA); the program is
well-being for all students. In Tier 2 (secondary prevention
not explicitly authorized in statute. Project AWARE
and brief intervention services), school-based screenings
supports activities that promote youth and adolescent
and interventions target students with increased risk factors
mental well-being in schools, identify school-aged youth
or moderate behavioral health needs. In Tier 3 (tertiary
needing mental health services, increase access to mental
prevention and behavioral health treatment), students in
health treatment, and improve mental health awareness
crises or with greater needs can access more intensive
among teachers and school personnel.
services at the school or through collaboration with
community partners.
Project AWARE originated as part of the Obama
Administration’s 2013 Now Is the Time initiative to reduce
Figure 1. Public Health Model of School-Based Mental
gun violence in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary
Health Activities
School shooting. Project AWARE builds upon strategies
from the preceding Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative.
These initiatives support community partnerships in school-
based programming on violence and drug use prevention,
safe school environments, early childhood social and
emotional learning, and training and referrals to mental
health services.
Project AWARE consists of several grants: (1) Project
AWARE State Educational Agency (State or SEA) grants,
(2) Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma
(ReCAST) grants, and (3) Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
grants (which have operated as a separate Mental Health
Awareness Training grant program as of 2018).
Project AWARE State Grants
Project AWARE State Grants consist of competitive grants

for school-based mental health programs and services. The
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
State grants—the largest component of Project AWARE—
(SAMHSA).
aim to build SEA capacity, in partnership with state mental
Notes: This public health approach for school-based mental health is
health agencies, to (1) increase mental health awareness
referred to as the multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) model.
among school-aged youth, (2) provide training for school
personnel to identify mental health issues, and (3) connect
This public health approach for behavioral health adopted
school-aged youth and families with needed services.
by schools is referred to as the multi-tiered system of
supports (MTSS) model. The MTSS approach is designed
Grantees are required to develop collaborative partnerships
to provide a continuum of care that positively affects an
with local educational agencies (LEAs), the state mental
entire school and creates a supportive school culture while
health agency, and local community behavioral health
offering specific interventions to meet the individual needs
service providers (including minority-serving community-
of each student. A comprehensive school-based mental
based organizations, health and mental health centers,
health MTSS includes activities implemented across the
and/or Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics).
three tiers to meet the various social, emotional, and
behavioral needs of all students.
Project AWARE supports the use of a three-tiered public
health model for school-based mental health activities
Project AWARE grantees have flexibility to implement a
spectrum of programming within the public health MTSS
https://crsreports.congress.gov

link to page 2
Project AWARE
model. Allowable Project AWARE activities can include,
authority in Title V of the PHSA (§520J; 42 U.S.C.
among others, training and self-care for school personnel,
§290bb-41), codifying the MHFA training grant component
trauma-informed counseling, support services for
of Project AWARE. The new authority applies to a more
LGBTQI+ youth, and developmentally appropriate training
general population (beyond schools) to include training for
on prosocial communication, heathy relationships, and
school-aged youth, college students, veterans, armed
related subjects. Grantees may also implement evidence-
service personnel, first responders, and the general public.
based suicide awareness and prevention training programs.
Since 2018, the MHAT grant program has operated
independently from Project AWARE. However, the Project
From FY2014 to FY2021, eligibility for Project AWARE
AWARE State and ReCAST grant programs support use of
State grants included SEAs and Tribal Educational
MHFA training.
Agencies. In FY2022, eligibility expanded to include
political subdivisions of states and other nonprofit entities.
Authorization and Funding
The President’s FY2024 budget request articulated an aim
Since Project AWARE is carried out through SAMHSA’s
to expand Project AWARE state grant eligibility to include
general authorities and is not explicitly authorized in
college students and adults, as well as nontraditional
statute, authorization for the program and congressional
educational settings.
direction—in addition to funding—has come through
annual Labor-HHS-ED appropriations laws and
ReCAST Grants
accompanying report language (Figure 2).
The ReCAST (Resiliency in Communities After Stress and
Trauma) program consists of competitive grants for
Figure 2. Project AWARE Funding
communities that have recently faced civil unrest, violence,
Annual and Supplemental Appropriations, FY2014-FY2023
or collective trauma. The program aims to foster
collaboration of local community resources to improve
behavioral health, empower community residents, and
reduce trauma. ReCAST grants assists high-risk youth and
families by promoting resilience through evidence-based
violence prevention and youth engagement programs, as
well as through linkages to community-based trauma-
informed behavioral health services. ReCAST grantees
engage a coalition of community stakeholders to determine
drivers of local civil unrest, trauma, and violence. With
these community partners, grantees (1) implement trauma-
informed behavioral health services, evidence-based

violence prevention initiatives, and community engagement
Source: CRS analysis of Labor-HHS-ED appropriations laws and
programs, and (2) provide culturally specific and
supplemental appropriations laws.
developmentally appropriate resilience-building initiatives.
Notes: ARPA=American Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117-2);
BSCA=Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (P.L. 117-159);
SAMHSA has provided ReCAST grants through Project
COVID=Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental
AWARE since 2016. Eligibility expanded in FY2022 from
Appropriations Act, 2021 (Division M of P.L. 116-260);
MHAT=Mental Health Awareness Training; MHFA=Mental Health
local municipalities (partnered with community-based
First Aid. BSCA funding is to be distributed in equal amounts across
organizations) that faced recent civil unrest to also include
FY2022-FY2025. Beginning in 2018, the MHAT grant program has
states, political subdivisions of states, community-based
operated independently of Project AWARE.
organizations, and tribes or tribal organizations.
Mental Health First Aid
In FY2021, Project AWARE received an additional $50
million through COVID-19 supplemental appropriations
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program provided
(Division M of P.L. 116-260) and $30 million through the
training for youth-serving adults to recognize students’
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA; P.L. 117-2). Through
mental health needs, provide initial help in a mental health
the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA; P.L. 117-
crisis, and connect students to appropriate care. MHFA
159), Project AWARE received $240 million, including
grants support the training of teachers and school personnel
$28 million specifically for increasing student access to
to detect and respond to mental health crises and other
evidence-based trauma support services as authorized in
unmet needs through Mental Health First Aid training.
Section 7134 of the SUPPORT for Patients and
Mental Health First Aid is structured similarly to standard
Communities Act (P.L. 115-271). Per statute, Project
first aid training: an eight-hour course on how to identify,
AWARE appropriations provided in the BSCA are to be
understand, and respond to the signs of a crisis, mental
distributed in equal amounts across FY2022-FY2025.
health condition, or substance use issue. Under the Now Is
the Time initiative, Project AWARE grants for MHFA were
CRS intern Amelia M. Parizek contributed to this report.
provided to LEAs and nonprofit entities.
Johnathan H. Duff, Analyst in Health Policy
In 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255) created
IF12478
a new Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT)
https://crsreports.congress.gov

Project AWARE

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12478 · VERSION 1 · NEW