---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 290dd–2a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "290dd–2a"
heading: "Promoting access to information on evidence-based programs and practices"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/290dd-2a"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III–A — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration"
  - "Part D — Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Substance Abuse and Mental Health"
---

# §290dd–2a. Promoting access to information on evidence-based programs and practices

- (a) **In general—** The Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall, as appropriate, improve access to reliable and valid information on evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), including information on the strength of evidence associated with such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), related to mental and substance use disorders for [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local communities, [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) entities, and other stakeholders, by posting on the Internet website of the Administration information on evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) that have been reviewed by the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) in accordance with the requirements of this section.
- (b) **Applications—**
  - (1) **Application period—** In carrying out [subsection (a)](#a), the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may establish a period for the submission of applications for evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to be posted publicly in accordance with [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) **Notice—** In establishing the application period under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall provide for the public notice of such application period in the Federal Register. Such notice may solicit applications for evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to address gaps in information identified by the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory established under [section 290aa–0 of this title](/usc/42/290aa–0.md), or the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) for Planning and Evaluation, including pursuant to the evaluation and recommendations under section 6021 of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Reform Act of 2016 or priorities identified in the strategic plan under [section 290aa(l)](/usc/42/290aa.md?p=l) of this title.
- (c) **Requirements—** The Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may establish minimum requirements for the applications submitted under [subsection (b)](#b), including applications related to the submission of research and evaluation.
- (d) **Review and rating—**
  - (1) **In general—** The Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall review applications prior to public posting in accordance with [subsection (a)](#a), and may prioritize the review of applications for evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) that are related to topics included in the notice provided under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2).
  - (2) **System—** In carrying out [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may utilize a rating and review system, which may include information on the strength of evidence associated with the evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) and a rating of the methodological rigor of the research supporting the applications.
  - (3) **Public access to metrics and rating—** The Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall make the metrics used to evaluate applications under this section, and any resulting ratings of such applications, publicly available.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 543A, as added Pub. L. 114–255, div. B, title VII, § 7002, Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1222.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 6021 of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Reform Act of 2016, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is section 6021 of Pub. L. 114–255, which is set out as a note under section 290aa of this title.