NY A09290

Office of Mental Health shall award a grant of at least $500,000 through a competitive process to develop and deploy a training program for mental health providers on combat-related PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and substance abuse, with $250,000 distributed at the beginning of each fiscal year for two years starting in 2012.

Grant recipient association of social workers must collaborate with associations of psychiatrists and physicians to design the program, establish an advisory committee including neurology and psychiatry experts, combat veterans, and family members, and conduct training in multiple locations across the state.

Program shall provide certified continuing education courses available online on veteran-specific mental health issues and educate service members and family members on accessing mental health and social services.

Grant recipient must produce yearly reports to the legislature, division of veterans' affairs, office of mental health, and office of alcoholism and substance abuse services regarding program progress, expenditures, and effectiveness.

Office of Mental Health and division of veterans' affairs retain audit power over grant expenditures, and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services shall consult and provide implementation guidelines for the program.