Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Established in 1992, the SAMHSA is the main federal agency for improving access to quality substance abuse and mental health services in the United States by working with state, community, and private organizations. The Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration co-chairs the HHS Behavioral Health Coordinating Council (BHCC), which is a coordinating body within the HHS established in 2010 by the HHS Secretary. The BHCC’s chief goals are to share information and identify and facilitate collaborative, action-oriented approaches to address the HHS behavioral health agenda without duplication of effort across the HHS. The SAMHSA is the umbrella agency for mental health and substance abuse services, which includes the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) , the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) , and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) . The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) is responsible for data collection, analysis, and dissemination of critical health data to assist policymakers, providers, and the public for use in making informed decisions regarding the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders ( SAMHSA, 2016 ).