Governments struggling to meet community addiction and mental-health needs in the aftermath of disasters like hurricane Katrina can apply for Emergency Response Grants (SERGs) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The grants -- available to public entities, including partnerships with nonprofit service groups -- are considered "funds of last resort" and are intended to meet addiction and mental-health needs when existing resources are inadequate. The shortfall in meeting community needs must be "the direct consequence of a clear precipitating event" in order for SERG funding to be awarded. Grants will only be made when there is no other local, state, tribal, federal, or private funding available to meet the needs specified in the application.

A precipitating event is defined as one that has "a sudden, rapid onset and a definite conclusion." Examples include natural disasters, technological disasters (like chemical spills or industrial accidents), or criminal acts such as acts of terrorism, riots, or other incidents of mass violence, such as school shootings.

Immediate SERG awards of up to $50,000 are available for use in the three months after the precipitating event; applications must be received by SAMHSA within 10 days of the emergency occurring. Intermediate SERG awards are "designed to meet the systemic mental health and/or substance abuse needs during the recovery period following the Immediate award period." No funding cap is set; grants are based on needs assessment and other data. Applications must be filed within 90 days of the emergency, and funds can be used to support services for up to one year.

To apply, government agencies need to initially contact the SAMHSA Emergency Coordinator at (240) 276-2230, who will provide guidance on subsequent application procedures. For more details, see the SAMHSA website.