The Policy Academy is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. With a focus on developing a workforce that can address the behavioral health needs of the American public, SAMHSA will support teams from 17 HBCUs in an effort to:

• Identify behavioral health priorities
• Define outcomes that will move the priorities forward
• Formulate a sustainable plan to achieve the outcomes
• Implement and measure the impact of their plans

Viewed as a “results-based decision-making process” rather than a single event, the Policy Academy involves three stages to help teams plan and implement their pilot projects:

1. Laying of the Groundwork
2. Academy Meeting
3. Action Plan Implementation

Each team will consist of six members, representing various constituencies within the college or university, who are at a level to influence policy and implement change:

• One student leader
• One staff leader (e.g., from student affairs)
• One faculty member/counseling center lead
• Three additional students

Participating HBCUs may also develop “home teams” that include additional members (potentially from the business or development office or career center, or a department chair). These members are engaged in the pre-Academy site visit, during portions of the Academy, and as an integral part of the team for the action plan implementation and TA phase.

Teams will participate in a 2-hour, Web-assisted, virtual site visit in February. The objectives of the visit are to:

• Introduce the SAMHSA staff and the teams
• Familiarize team members with the Academy process
• Review team expectations and discuss pilot project outcomes
• Provide teams with an opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback

The Academy will take place in Orlando, FL, on March 15-17, with team members arriving on the 14th. The 2.5-day Academy will feature town hall style meetings, a marketplace, and concurrent breakout sessions focused on the two themes of leadership and partnership.

Teams will spend blocks of time in team sessions during the Academy to develop action plans around these two themes, with assistance from an external facilitator. Teams can expect to leave the Academy with 6-month action plans for implementing their team projects and creating sustainable systems change on their campuses.

Following the Academy, teams will submit a completed action plan within 30 days and submit a Progress Report within 60 days. The Progress Report will include an assessment of your progress toward meeting the goals of the mini-grant and the Academy.