Ever wonder how the federal government decides the amount of money to give states and other recipients of addiction treatment and prevention funding? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains all in its new publication, Block Grants and Formula Grants: A Guide (PDF).

The guide includes nontechnical explanations of the methods used to allocate block grants and other formula-based funding initiatives, including the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, the Mental Health Services Block Grant, the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Formula Grant, and the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Formula Grant.

The guide includes flow charts and other background information on formula funding, as well.