Circles of Care for American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN)

The Circles of Care program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that focuses on improving behavioral health outcomes across the United States. This funding opportunity is specifically designed to address the mental health needs of American Indian and Alaska Native populations by strengthening tribal infrastructure and planning capacity. The program aligns with federal priorities related to addressing serious mental illness, improving access to care, and advancing coordinated systems of support for vulnerable populations. The primary purpose of this grant is to support federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations in planning and developing a comprehensive, community-based system of care. This system is intended to serve children, youth, and young adults from birth through age twenty-five, along with their families. The system of care model emphasizes coordinated services that are family-driven, youth-guided, and rooted in community engagement. Rather than funding direct clinical services, the program focuses on building the infrastructure, partnerships, and planning mechanisms necessary to deliver effective services in the future. Funding supports a range of structured planning and capacity-building activities. Required activities include establishing a Tribal Community Board, conducting a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, facilitating a culturally grounded community gathering process, developing cross-system partnerships, and producing a formal system of care blueprint. These activities are designed to ensure that tribal communities develop sustainable and culturally appropriate mental health systems. Allowable activities may include outreach, education, and community engagement initiatives, but all activities must align with planning and system development rather than service delivery. The total estimated funding available for the program is over six million dollars, with approximately twenty awards expected. Each award may receive up to three hundred fifty thousand dollars annually for a project period of up to three years. Funding is contingent upon progress, compliance, and availability of federal appropriations. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for applicants. However, strict funding limitations apply, including prohibitions on using funds for direct clinical services or certain restricted activities outlined by federal policy. Eligibility is limited to federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, tribal organizations, Urban Indian Organizations, and consortia of these entities. Organizations that previously received funding under specific prior Circles of Care opportunities are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to carry out required planning activities and engage key stakeholders across systems such as education, health, and justice. The application process requires submission through federal systems, including Grants.gov and eRA Commons, and includes multiple required components such as a project narrative, budget narrative, and supporting attachments. Applications are due by July 15, 2026, with awards expected to be issued in early September 2026 and project activities beginning at the end of that month. Applicants must follow a structured submission process that includes registration, preparation of required forms, and compliance with federal formatting and validation requirements. Applications are evaluated through a merit review process that assesses need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection plans. Successful applicants will be required to submit regular performance and financial reports and participate in technical assistance and monitoring activities throughout the project period.

Ensure strong alignment with SAMHSA priorities; clearly define measurable outcomes; demonstrate stakeholder engagement and cross-system partnerships; strictly follow formatting and page limits