CMHIS provides support for your organization or system on how to implement the most effective mental health care in your community.
What We Do
The Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS) applies a deep knowledge of how to sustainably implement effective mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery practices and programs that support organizations and systems in improving the lives of the people they serve.
CMHIS and our bi-regional Hubs can help your organization or system improve the delivery of mental health care. We can strategize how to overcome barriers to implementing and sustaining your current programs, or planning new program implementation from start to finish.
We can help you map the course, navigate roadblocks, and provide support to ensure that the people who need it receive the excellent mental health care that providers always strive to deliver. We do this through:
CMHIS serves organizations that oversee or directly provide mental health services, including grantees funded by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. These organizations typically work with people with serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.
Newsworthy Features
CMHIS Community Connect: May 2026
Welcome to the latest CMHIS Community Connect newsletter, your bimonthly source for tools, insights, and opportunities to strengthen mental health practices. In this issue, we highlight Mental Health Awareness Month; the Program Sustainability Assessment Tool (PSAT); upcoming national Navigating the Now and Core Topics events; and a Hub spotlight on…
How Leaders Can Improve Workplace Climate for Successful Implementation of Mental Health Practices
Implementation of mental health practices and programs occurs within complex, multilevel systems with many factors that can impede or enhance implementation efforts. For example, clinical providers who deliver the mental health practice often face direct costs, time demands, and limited…
What Is Adaptation and Why Does It Matter? Guidance for Adapting Mental Health Practices and Programs
Implementing mental health practices in real-world settings rarely goes exactly as planned. Adaptation is a necessary and powerful part of successful implementation. This series brings together nationally recognized implementation science experts to help behavioral health leaders, practitioners, and program developers…
Evaluations that Matter: Turning Program Evaluation into Insight and Action
Evaluations that Matter is a no-cost, one-part national learning session designed to introduce practical, beginner-level strategies for building and using program evaluations within community and behavioral health settings. This session is open to all states and territories. June 30 | 1:00–2:00*…
Our Approach
Implementing mental health care practices and maintaining their effectiveness is hard. CMHIS has tools and strategies to help make it easier for you to deliver the best care.
The process of implementing an effective intervention starts by understanding the mental health needs in a community and current gaps in care. Next, the right intervention must be selected. Staff must also be prepared and resources must be gathered before starting to deliver the new practice. Finally, the new service is evaluated and sustained to ensure it continues to be delivered at the highest quality.
The process can be divided into the eight core topics listed below. We provide resources and support about these topics, but will meet you wherever you are in your journey, from maintaining services through shifting priorities and funding, to starting something new.
Implementing mental health care practices and maintaining their effectiveness is hard. CMHIS has tools and strategies to help make it easier for you to deliver the best care.
The process of implementing an effective intervention starts by understanding the mental health needs in a community and current gaps in care. Next, the right intervention must be selected. Staff must also be prepared and resources must be gathered before starting to deliver the new practice. Finally, the new service is evaluated and sustained to ensure it continues to be delivered at the highest quality.
The process can be divided into the eight core topics listed below. We provide resources and support about these topics, but will meet you wherever you are in your journey, from maintaining services through shifting priorities and funding, to starting something new.
The Process of Implementing an Effective Intervention
Preparing
Implementing
Sustaining
Bi-Regional Hubs
Our bi-regional Hubs can provide tailored support for organizations and systems on how to implement effective practices to deliver the best mental health care. We help teams better understand and apply the science and strategies to navigate obstacles they face and harness the strengths they possess.
Browse hubs by hovering over the map. Log in or register to set your default Hub.
