FY2026 Cooperative Agreements for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Crisis Center Follow-Up Programs

The FY Cooperative Agreements for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Crisis Center Follow-Up Programs is a forecasted federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The opportunity is listed on Grants.gov under opportunity number FG-26-004 and falls within the Health category of federal assistance. The funding opportunity is intended to strengthen the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system by supporting crisis centers that already participate in the Lifeline network and provide continuous 24-hour, seven-day-a-week crisis services. The forecasted program is associated with Assistance Listing 93.00R, which covers 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs. SAMHSA expects to make approximately 30 awards through cooperative agreements, with an estimated total program funding amount of $7,500,000. The purpose of the Crisis Center Follow-Up Improvement program is to expand and improve post-contact support activities among participating Lifeline crisis centers. SAMHSA indicates that the program is designed to help crisis centers maintain contact with individuals after an initial crisis interaction in order to provide continued support, referrals, and linkage to behavioral health and recovery services. The intended outcomes include reducing suicide risk, decreasing overdose deaths, and minimizing the likelihood of future crisis events. The emphasis on follow-up services reflects a broader federal strategy to improve continuity of care after crisis intervention and strengthen behavioral health response systems nationwide. Eligible applicants are specifically limited to crisis centers that are already part of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline network and that provide continuous 24/7 crisis response services. The opportunity does not identify additional categories of eligible entities such as state governments, higher education institutions, or general nonprofit organizations unless those entities operate qualifying Lifeline crisis centers. The notice does not identify any cost sharing or matching requirement, and the listing explicitly states that no matching requirement applies. Because the funding announcement is currently forecasted rather than fully posted, additional eligibility details, allowable costs, and administrative requirements are expected to be released in the final notice of funding opportunity. The funding instrument for this opportunity is identified as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. This indicates that SAMHSA is expected to have substantial involvement in the funded projects, potentially including technical assistance, oversight, coordination, or collaborative implementation activities with recipients. While the forecast notice does not yet describe allowable expenditures in detail, it is reasonable to expect that funding will support staffing, outreach, follow-up coordination, crisis response infrastructure, data collection, and other operational activities related to crisis center follow-up services. The current forecast notice does not provide award ceiling or award floor values, estimated project start dates, or award notification timelines. The forecasted opportunity was updated on May 12, 2026, with an estimated posting date of May 29, 2026. The forecast date originally associated with the opportunity was December 29, 2025. No estimated application due date has yet been published, and the opportunity is therefore considered to be in an early engagement stage rather than an active solicitation period. Applicants interested in pursuing funding should monitor Grants.gov and SAMHSA communications for the release of the full funding announcement, which is expected to include application instructions, evaluation criteria, required forms, budget guidance, and submission procedures. As with most federal opportunities, applicants will likely be required to maintain active federal registrations through SAM.gov and submit applications through Grants.gov once the opportunity officially opens. The contact person identified for the opportunity is James Wright of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The notice provides a direct phone number and email address for inquiries regarding the forecasted program. Because the opportunity is still in forecast status, applicants may use this contact information to seek clarification about anticipated eligibility, timing, or program scope while awaiting publication of the complete funding announcement. The opportunity appears to be part of an ongoing federal investment in behavioral health crisis response systems and may recur in future federal fiscal years depending on congressional appropriations and program priorities.

Focus proposals on strengthening post-contact engagement, continuity of care, crisis follow-up coordination, and measurable strategies to reduce suicide and overdose risk among individuals served through the 988 Lifeline network.