The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently announced the formation of a new federal interagency initiative to better address serious mental illness across the nation. The Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) was created under the 21st Century Cures Act to foster coordination of all federal efforts related to serious mental illness. SAMHSA is responsible for managing the ISMICC.
The committee will be comprised of representatives from federal government agencies as well as members of the public. Ten federal agencies will participate in the ISMICC including HHS, the Departments of Justice, Labor, Veteran Affairs, Defense, Housing and Urban Development, Education, and the Social Security Administration. In addition, there will be at least 14 non-federal members including mental health researchers, providers, patients, families, judges, law enforcement officers, and other professionals working with individuals living with serious mental illness. The committee is expected to announce its full membership and convene its inaugural meeting later this year.
SAMHSA is seeking nominations for the non-federal members of the committee. Nominations are due by Friday, June 2, 2017 and may be e-mailed to pamela.foote@samhsa.hhs.gov.
View the Federal Register notice for additional information about the ISMICC and the nomination process.