Center of Excellence on Eating Disorders

The Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (COE-ED) funding opportunity is offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program is authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act and is designed to strengthen national capacity to address eating disorders through coordinated training and technical assistance. SAMHSA’s broader mission is to improve behavioral health outcomes and expand access to evidence-based care, and this initiative aligns with its strategic priorities to address serious mental illness and improve access to treatment nationwide. The primary purpose of this grant is to establish a single national Center of Excellence focused on eating disorders. The funded entity will provide training and technical assistance to healthcare providers, paraprofessionals, and community-based service providers. These efforts are intended to improve screening, early identification, intervention, referral, and care coordination for individuals across the lifespan, including children and youth. The program emphasizes addressing gaps in knowledge, reducing stigma, and improving outcomes for individuals with eating disorders and co-occurring mental health or substance use conditions. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement with an estimated total program funding of $1,873,148 annually, supporting one award for up to five years. Applicants may request up to $1,873,148 per year, inclusive of direct and indirect costs, with indirect costs capped at 8 percent of modified total direct costs. Funds are primarily intended for training and technical assistance activities and cannot be used for certain restricted purposes, including food costs and activities that do not align with federal policies and priorities. No cost sharing or matching funds are required. Eligible applicants include a broad range of domestic public and private nonprofit entities such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, health facilities, and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based entities. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to deliver national-level training and technical assistance and must comply with federal registration requirements, including active accounts with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons prior to submission. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov or eRA Commons by June 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants must complete a comprehensive application package that includes a project abstract, project narrative, budget narrative, and multiple required attachments such as letters of commitment, a project timeline, and documentation of nonprofit status. The project narrative is limited to 15 pages and must address specific evaluation criteria including need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection plans. Applications will undergo an initial eligibility review followed by a merit-based peer review process. Evaluation criteria include the clarity of the proposed approach, alignment with program goals, organizational experience, and data and performance measurement strategies. Final funding decisions also consider alignment with SAMHSA priorities, availability of funds, and risk assessment. Award notifications are expected around September 1, 2026, with a project start date of September 30, 2026. Throughout the project period, recipients must meet extensive reporting and performance requirements, including annual progress reports, data submission through SAMHSA systems, and participation in technical assistance and coordination activities. The program is not explicitly described as recurring but reflects a structured federal funding cycle tied to fiscal year appropriations. For questions, applicants may contact program staff via email at coe_ed@samhsa.hhs.gov or by phone through SAMHSA’s listed contacts.

Align proposal with SAMHSA strategic priorities; provide clear measurable objectives; demonstrate strong evaluation and data collection capacity; ensure compliance with all required activities