---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 290aa–0"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "290aa–0"
heading: "National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/290aa-0"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III–A — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration"
  - "Part A — Organization and General Authorities"
---

# §290aa–0. National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory

- (a) **In general—** There shall be established within the Administration a National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory (referred to in this section as the “Laboratory”).
- (b) **Responsibilities—** The Laboratory shall—
  - (1) continue to carry out the authorities and activities that were in effect for the Office of Policy, Planning, and Innovation as such Office existed prior to December 13, 2016;
  - (2) identify, coordinate, and facilitate the implementation of policy changes likely to have a significant effect on mental health, mental illness, recovery supports, and the prevention and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of [substance use disorder services](/usc/42/290cc–34.md?p=4);
  - (3) work with the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality to collect, as appropriate, information from grantees under [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) operated by the Administration in order to evaluate and disseminate information on evidence-based [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), including culturally and linguistically appropriate [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), as appropriate, and [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) delivery models;
  - (4) provide leadership in identifying and coordinating policies and [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), related to mental and substance use disorders;
  - (5) periodically review [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and activities operated by the Administration relating to the diagnosis or prevention of, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) for, and recovery from, mental and substance use disorders to—
    - (A) identify any such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) or activities that are duplicative;
    - (B) identify any such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) or activities that are not evidence-based, effective, or efficient; and
    - (C) formulate recommendations for coordinating, eliminating, or improving [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) or activities identified under subparagraph [(A)](#b-5-A) or [(B)](#b-5-B) and merging such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) or activities into other successful [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) or activities;
  - (6) issue and periodically update information for entities applying for grants or cooperative agreements from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration in order to—
    - (A) encourage the implementation and replication of evidence-based [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19); and
    - (B) provide technical assistance to applicants for funding, including with respect to justifications for such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and activities; and
  - (7) carry out other activities as deemed necessary to continue to encourage innovation and disseminate evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19).
- (c) **Evidence-based practices and service delivery models—**
  - (1) **In general—** In carrying out [subsection (b)(3)](#b-3), the Laboratory—
    - (A) may give preference to models that improve—
      - (i) the coordination between mental health and physical health [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8);
      - (ii) the coordination among such [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8) and the justice and corrections system; and
      - (iii) the cost effectiveness, quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of health [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7) furnished to adults with a serious mental illness, children with a serious emotional disturbance, or individuals in a mental health crisis; and
    - (B) may include clinical protocols and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) that address the needs of individuals with early serious mental illness.
  - (2) **Consultation—** In carrying out this section, the Laboratory shall consult with—
    - (A) the Chief Medical Officer appointed under [section 290aa(g) of this title](/usc/42/290aa.md?p=g);
    - (B) representatives of the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on [Drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) Abuse, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, on an ongoing basis;
    - (C) other appropriate Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1);
    - (D) clinical and analytical experts with expertise in psychiatric [medical care](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=a-2) and clinical psychological care, health care management, education, corrections health care, and mental health court systems, as appropriate; and
    - (E) other individuals and [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) as determined appropriate by the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c).
- (d) **Deadline for beginning implementation—** The Laboratory shall begin implementation of this section not later than January 1, 2018.
- (e) **Promoting innovation—**
  - (1) **In general—** The Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in coordination with the Laboratory, may award grants to [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local governments, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations (as such terms are defined in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md)), educational institutions, and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations to develop evidence-based interventions, including culturally and linguistically appropriate [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), as appropriate, for—
    - (A) evaluating a model that has been scientifically demonstrated to show promise, but would benefit from further applied development, for—
      - (i) enhancing the prevention, diagnosis, intervention, and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of, and recovery from, mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, substance use disorders, and co-occurring illness or disorders; or
      - (ii) integrating or coordinating physical health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and mental and substance use disorders [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a); and
    - (B) expanding, replicating, or scaling evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) across a wider area to enhance effective screening, early diagnosis, intervention, and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) with respect to mental illness, serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, and substance use disorders, primarily by—
      - (i) applying such evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to the delivery of care, including by training staff in effective evidence-based [treatments](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11); or
      - (ii) integrating such evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) into models of care across specialties and jurisdictions.
  - (2) **Consultation—** In awarding grants under this subsection, the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall, as appropriate, consult with the Chief Medical Officer, appointed under [section 290aa(g) of this title](/usc/42/290aa.md?p=g), the [advisory councils](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) described in [section 290aa–1 of this title](/usc/42/290aa–1.md), the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on [Drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) Abuse, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, as appropriate.
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 501A, as added Pub. L. 114–255, div. B, title VII, § 7001, Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1220; amended Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, § 7111, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4042; Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title I, § 1121(a), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5647.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1121(a)(1), substituted “Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations” for “Indian tribes or tribal organizations” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1121(a)(2), struck out par. (3) which authorized appropriations for grants for fiscal years 2018 through 2020.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1121(a)(3), added subsec. (f).

2018—Subsec. (b)(6), (7). Pub. L. 115–271 added par. (6) and redesignated former par. (6) as (7).