Instead of funding large intitiaves separately (e.g., MH transformation), SAMHSA needs to put big $$ toward transforming the system as a whole! If this happens, the rest of us will have to follow!

when we are talking about outcomes we should be looking at recovery outcomes both in substance and mental health. Many States have gone increasingly medical model and outcome has come to mean a billable unit of clinical status. SAMHSA should lead the way in language and concider that individual's treatment should help the person recover not be stuck in a never ending cycle of services. the system needs to support the people being treated not just the providers providing the services.

Better address and utilize peer support and recovery principles as well as peers and family in developing and understanding whether SAMHSA is meeting it's objectives

We have a recovery defined in the National Consensus Statement on Recovery and we have recovery defined from the addiction perspective ... How about put them together and define Recovery as "a journey of healing and transformation allowing a person with a mental health and/or substance use challenge to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve his or her full potential"

Treatment is not sustainable in the long run and we now know how to get this done right

Alliance Against Psychiatry seeks to get the so-called "mental health" movement kicked out of the medical profession.

Children's MH and establishing a national stgandard of care that is based on systems of care (beyond demonstration projects)

A core principal of any effective, high quality health care system is that it also be patient centered. Nearly all EHR vendors have the ability to open up a portal showing them their meds, problem list, upcoming appts, after visit summaries etc (vs clinical notes) to patients and this should be a key part of your IT strategy.

FASD- effects education and work
It is well established that those with FASD experience disrupted schooling and difficulty maintaining employment with major consequences for society.
This SAMHSA Strategic Initiative will be incomplete unless it addresses these issues

Very Simple Grant Applications that do not burden states with shoestring staff or that are under distracting economic hardship.