Grant Details

The purpose of the TCE-TAC Program is to expand and/or enhance the capacity of substance abuse treatment providers to serve persons in treatment who have been underserved because of lack of access to treatment in their immediate community due to transportation concerns, an inadequate number of substance abuse treatment providers in their community, and/or financial constraints. The use of technology, including web-based services, smart phones, and behavioral health electronic applications (e-apps), will expand and/or enhance the ability of providers to effectively communicate with persons in treatment and to track and manage their health to ensure treatment and services are available where and when needed.

The TCE-TAC program is designed to improve and expand treatment opportunities and communication with persons in treatment who may not have access to treatment and a full range of health services due to geographic, socioeconomic and/or psychosocial issues that can impact negatively on their living conditions, financial situation and family responsibilities. Technology-assisted care, including personal health records and related e-therapy tools such as web-based applications that can be accessed from home or from smart phones, is an ideal approach to more efficiently address the needs of hard to reach populations, including individuals living in rural areas and those with special needs such as the elderly, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender individuals, persons with co-occurring disorders, and ethnic and racial minorities.

Expected outcomes for the program include:

• Sharing of effective treatment models and results among providers;
• Increased engagement of persons in treatment in their health care;
• Increased monitoring and tracking the health status of individuals; and
• Improvement in recovery and resiliency rates.

The population of focus for this program is adults ages 18 and over, who reside in rural and underserved areas, and/or have special needs (e.g., elderly, ethnic and racial minorities, criminal justice involved individuals, etc.).

Applicants must screen and assess clients for the presence of co-occurring mental and substance use disorders and use the information obtained from the screening and assessment to develop appropriate treatment approaches for the persons identified as having such co-occurring disorders.

Applicants must use SAMHSA’s services grant funds primarily to support allowable direct services. This includes the following types of activities:

• Purchase and maintenance of web-based service and electronic applications that can be accessed from smart phone devices and are designed to enhance or support substance abuse treatment and services (e.g., self-management through reminders and educational prompts or locations of treatment facilities or services).
• Purchase and maintenance of web-based or mobile applications that deliver realtime data on their health condition to both persons in treatment and their providers.
• Purchase and maintenance of web-based support groups and personal health records, including appropriate training for persons in treatment on the use of their personal health records.
• Purchase and maintenance of consumer-oriented, wireless technology (e.g., iPhones, iPads, Androids, other smart devices) to monitor chronic health conditions while the person in treatment is at home.
• Provide wrap-around/recovery support services (e.g., child care, vocational, educational and transportation services) designed to improve access and retention.

Grants funds must also be used to support the following activities:

• Technology in the integration of treatment plans for individuals;
• Partnership development and share outcomes;
• Wellness promotion through personal empowerment and engagement of persons in their own treatment;
• Tools for better recovery and resiliency through ongoing monitoring of health status (i.e., e-apps and electronic devices for clients); and
• Tools for grantees to better track and measure their ability to achieve improved health outcomes for persons in treatment

Grant funds may be used to purchase such services from another provider. All purchased software must meet the requirements of the ONC-ATCBs.