FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

HHS - 188 - Advisory Committee for Women's Services - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee for Women's Services	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	188
Original Establishment Date	7/10/1992	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/advisory-counci...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	10
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Team Supervisor
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	6/15/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Valerie
Date Of Renewal Charter	6/15/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Kolick
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	M.S.
Specific Termination Authority	N/A	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	240-276-1738
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	240-276-2252
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 290aa	Designated Federal Officer Email*	valerie.kolick@samhsa.hhs.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	7/10/1992
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	In accordance with section 501(f) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 290aa, the SAMHSA Associate Administrator for Women’s Services (AAWS) shall provide leadership and guidance in developing and implementing agency plans to meet women’s substance abuse and mental health services needs; coordinate and promote collaboration among the three SAMHSA Centers, and with other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) components; develop policies and programs regarding women’s issues; develop plans to standardize and enhance the collection of data on women’s health; establish and operate the mandated agency Coordinating Committee for Women’s Services; promote the allocation of sufficient resources for women’s services within each SAMHSA Center; establish and support the mandated ACWS; ensure the establishment, maintenance and operation of a program to provide information on women’s substance abuse and mental health services; assure the conduct of appropriate evaluation of women’s services; and monitor and report on agency recruitment and hiring of women in senior positions.
How is membership balanced?*	The ACWS is comprised of ten members appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, SAMHSA and 1 federal employee (Associate Administrator for Women's Services). A majority of the members are women who are not employees of the Federal Government. Members include physicians, practitioners, consumer advocates, treatment providers, criminal justice professionals, professors, researchers and other health professionals, whose clinical practice, specialization, or professional expertise include a significant focus on women's substance abuse and mental health conditions. Appointments are made by paying close attention to experience, expertise and gender representation, as well as equitable race/ethnicity representation and geographical distribution. All members participate fully in policy discussions and program development, each bringing to bear their own unique perspective.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The committee met three times in FY24. April 2nd, 2024 in person, April 17th virtually, and August 27, 2024 in-person. On April 2, the committee discussed the ACWS Maternal Mental Health Subcommittee work and the national strategy for maternal mental health. Additionally, a discussion continued around women's behavioral health. During the 2nd half of the meeting the Maternal Mental Health Subcommittee members joined the meeting, along with Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Admiral Level and Assistant Secretary for Substance Use and Mental Health, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon. During the April 17th meeting, there was a continuation of the National Maternal Mental Health Strategy and the ACWS members approved recommendations from the subcommittee on a report to congress and strategy direction. The August 2024 meeting provided an update on the Maternal Mental Health Subcommittee work, provided an overview of pregnant and parenting women, and introduced new work in the field of eating disorders, and gender based violence. It is anticipated that two 1-day face-to-face or virtual meetings will be held in FY 2025, thus adhering to the Committee's mandate and continuing function of advising SAMHSA on the appropriate policies and activities with respect to women's substance abuse and mental health services and on the improvement in the participation of women in the Agency's workforce. The meetings are relevant to SAMHSA because they allow the Agency to secure the professional expertise necessary to accomplish its mission and maintain the public's trust.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The ACWS is composed of experts whose clinical practice, specialization or professional expertise includes a significant focus on women's substance abuse and mental health conditions. The direction, scope, balance and emphasis of the advice received from this group cannot be obtained from Agency staff or from other established sources because the membership of the Committee is constituted to meet the specific requirements of the mandated mission of the Committee and of the Agency. Moreover, the Committee provides a direct link between SAMHSA and the field and is invaluable in helping SAMHSA to be responsive to the needs of women with or at risk for addictive and mental health disorders.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	The ACWS has made recommendations to disparity statements that have been added into grant language, and has helped to reprioritize strategies in multiple areas such as maternal mental health, veterans services, gender based violence, adolescent girls mental health, and maternal mental health.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Committee recommendations and suggestions may lead to savings over time. However, the savings may not be realized for years and are difficult to determine.	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	129	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Between FYs 1994 and 2024, the ACWS produced approximately 129 recommendations. During FY 2024, the following recommendations were made: (1) The ACWS has been instrumental in helping to develop the National Maternal Mental Health Strategy with hundreds of recommendations over the year; (2) it was recommended that SAMHSA zone in on adolescent girls and depression, which is currently in action at SAMHSA	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	70.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Since the beginning of the ACWS, approximately 60% of the Committee's recommendations have been fully implemented by the Agency. For example, SAMHSA is ensuring that cultural competency perspective and trauma informed care is incorporated into all of its strategic initiatives. SAMHSA connected the National Judicial Opioid Task Force with Single State Agencies. SAMHSA worked with OWH/OASH to publish the Re-entry guide which was released Spring of FY 2020. Additionally, SAMHSA is continuing to research the best practices for telehealth, sustainability, increase in BH services for women and children, furthering of data collection and analysis, and incorporating trauma-informed care through primary care providers. SAMHSA continues to receive feedback and implement suggestions from the ACWS for the White House National Plan to End Gender Based Violence, and the cross-agency Maternal Mental Health Task Force. ACWS members are also leads for the National Strategy on Maternal Mental Health through the maternal mental health subcommittee. Furthermore, SAMHSA is currently beginning a year long project to determine strategy around adolescent girls and depression rates.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	10.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	During the life of the Committee, approximately 10% of its recommendations have been partially implemented due to restrictions imposed by legislative/fiscal/programmatic concerns and/or superseding agency priorities.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Status reports on actions by the Agency on matters that have come before the Committee are provided at Committee meetings. The Agency provides feedback to the members in the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, SAMHSA and Associate Administrator for Women's Services' Reports provided to members in each meeting. The Agency ensures that complete meeting minutes are prepared and circulates them in draft to the members for clearance and approval at the next official meeting. When the ACWS votes to pass resolutions/recommendations for the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, SAMHSA, it is SAMHSA's policy to ensure responses to the Committee are provided within a prescribed time frame. Summaries of information may be mailed, e-mailed, telephoned or faxed to Committee members. Communications from SAMHSA staff to ACWS members include: issue papers, fact sheets, press releases, reports and other documents. ACWS members also have access to senior management and technical experts, when needed.The public can obtain information on the SAMHSA website: https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/advisory-councils/meetings?field_council_list_value%5B%5D=ACWS.	Narrative Description*	The Advisory Committee for Women’s Services (ACWS) provides guidance and advice to the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, SAMHSA, on the appropriate activities to be undertaken by the Agency with respect to women’s substance abuse and mental health services. SAMHSA is directed by Congress to target effectively substance abuse and mental health services to the people most in need and to translate research in these areas more effectively and more rapidly into the general health care system. Over the years SAMHSA has demonstrated that - prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral health services improve health status and reduce health care and other costs to society. Continued improvement in the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services provides a cost effective opportunity to advance and protect the Nation's health. In FY 2024, the ACWS supported the Agency's mission SAMHSA’s to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes, and through ACWS, identifying issues/problems specifically related to women and girls, maternal mental health, women veterans, and gender based violence.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	3/14/2025 9:22 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Civil Rights Children Equal Opportunity Women Education Schools and Academic Institutions Training Government Federal Government Internal Federal Government State Government Tribal Government Health Aging Health Care Public Health Safety Treatment

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