Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health funding opportunity is a forecasted federal discretionary grant program administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program is listed under Assistance Listing 93.532, Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance. The opportunity is intended to support the development or enhancement of infant and early childhood mental health promotion and intervention programs serving young children. SAMHSA anticipates making approximately 10 awards through this funding opportunity during fiscal year 2026, with an estimated total program funding amount of $5,087,530. The purpose of the program is to strengthen systems and services that promote healthy emotional and social development among infants and young children while also supporting interventions that address early childhood mental health challenges. The funding is intended to help eligible organizations establish new programming or improve existing service models focused on infant and early childhood mental health outcomes. Activities may include mental health promotion initiatives, prevention strategies, family and caregiver supports, intervention services, workforce development, or systems coordination that improve behavioral health outcomes for young children. The forecast announcement does not yet provide detailed allowable cost guidance, indirect cost limitations, or detailed programmatic priorities, but the stated objective clearly centers on expanding and improving mental health services and supports for early childhood populations. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is statutorily limited to human services agencies or nonprofit institutions. The forecasted notice specifically identifies "Others" under the applicant category and clarifies in the additional eligibility language that only human services agencies or nonprofit institutions are eligible to apply. Because the notice does not further define nonprofit status or organizational requirements, applicants should anticipate that additional eligibility criteria may be provided in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity when officially released. No cost sharing or matching requirement is currently identified in the forecast announcement, indicating that applicants are not expected to provide matching funds unless later clarified in the full solicitation materials. The opportunity is currently in forecast status. The forecasted date for the opportunity was March 20, 2026, and the estimated posting date is May 29, 2026. At the time of analysis, no application deadline, award date, project start date, or performance period information has been released. Similarly, no information is currently available regarding required application forms, review criteria, evaluation scoring, required attachments, or mandatory pre-application steps such as letters of intent or concept papers. Applicants should monitor Grants.gov and SAMHSA announcements closely for the official release of the funding package and associated application instructions once the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity becomes available. Because the grant has not yet been formally posted, submission mechanics remain incomplete. However, SAMHSA discretionary grant opportunities generally require electronic submission through Grants.gov, including completion of federal standard forms, narrative responses, budget documents, and organizational certifications. Additional instructions, including registration requirements, technical assistance opportunities, and program-specific evaluation criteria, are expected to be included in the final application package. The forecast announcement currently provides only limited details and does not include a direct PDF notice or application guidance document. SAMHSA has identified a program contact for this funding opportunity. Questions regarding the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health opportunity may be directed to Emily Lichvar at InfantandEarlyChildhoodMentalHealth@samhsa.hhs.gov or by phone at 240-276-1859. Since this is a forecasted opportunity and the formal application period has not yet opened, prospective applicants should use the forecast period to prepare organizational materials, assess program readiness, and monitor for updates regarding application timelines, award expectations, and project requirements. Based on the nature of federal behavioral health funding opportunities, organizations with experience delivering community-based behavioral health or early childhood services may be particularly well positioned to pursue this funding once the official solicitation is released.

Align proposed programming closely with infant and early childhood mental health promotion and intervention objectives described by SAMHSA.