One of SAMHSA’s core missions is to provide current behavioral health data, research, and evaluation information to:

• Practitioners
• Health promotion specialists
• Policymakers
• Consumers

To support this mission, CBHSQ conducts research, evaluation, and data collection activities and provides information on the following topics and more:

• Alcohol and other drug use as well as mental health prevalence in the United States
• Mental and substance use disorder treatment facilities
• Behavioral health services, such as drug-related hospital emergency room visits

In addition, CBHSQ:

• Recommends a core set of performance metrics to evaluate activities supported by the Administration
• Coordinates with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Chief Medical Officer, as appropriate, to improve the quality of services provided by contracted programs and the evaluation of activities carried out by the Administration
• Works with the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory to collect information from program grantees to evaluate and disseminate information on evidence-based practices, including culturally and linguistically appropriate services, as appropriate, and service delivery models
• Improves access to reliable and valid information on evidence-based programs and practices, including information on the strength of evidence associated with such programs and practices, related to mental and substance use disorders
• Compiles, analyzes, and disseminates behavioral health information for statistical purposes

To learn more about CBHSQ activities, click here for CBHSQ’s latest publications.