Cooperative Agreements for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grants

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic State Planning Grants 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 leads federal efforts to improve behavioral health services nationwide. This funding opportunity is designed to help states expand access to coordinated, comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder services through the development of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. These clinics are intended to provide integrated, community-based care for individuals across the lifespan, including those with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions. The primary purpose of this grant program is to support states in preparing for participation in the Section 223 CCBHC Demonstration Program. Grant recipients are expected to develop certification systems for clinics, establish Prospective Payment Systems for Medicaid reimbursement, and build the necessary infrastructure to submit a future demonstration application. The planning phase focuses heavily on capacity building, including stakeholder engagement, interagency coordination, and development of statewide systems that ensure clinics meet federal certification criteria related to staffing, accessibility, care coordination, service scope, reporting, and governance. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, with an estimated total program funding of up to 12,000,000 dollars and individual awards of up to 1,000,000 dollars for a one-year project period. Funds are restricted to planning and infrastructure development activities and may not be used for direct service delivery or food expenses. Additional limitations prohibit funding activities that conflict with federal law or SAMHSA priorities, including certain policy positions and program approaches. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity. Eligibility is limited to state-level entities, specifically State Mental Health Authorities, Single State Agencies for substance abuse services, and State Medicaid Agencies. Applicants must demonstrate collaboration among these entities through a signed Memorandum of Agreement outlining roles and responsibilities. Only states that have not previously participated in the CCBHC Demonstration Program are eligible to apply. The program emphasizes inclusive stakeholder engagement, requiring input from individuals with lived experience, providers, tribal partners, and other relevant groups throughout the planning process. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov or eRA Commons and includes a project abstract, project narrative, and budget narrative, along with multiple required attachments such as a project timeline and Memorandum of Agreement. The project narrative is limited to 15 pages and must address defined evaluation criteria including population need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection plans. Applicants must also complete standard federal forms such as the SF-424 and SF-424A. Applications are due by August 17, 2026, with awards expected around November 15, 2026 and project start dates anticipated for November 30, 2026. The program represents the first phase of a two-phase process, with successful planning grant recipients expected to apply for the demonstration program by April 1, 2028. Up to 10 states will be selected for the demonstration phase, which spans four years and allows certified clinics to receive Medicaid reimbursement under an approved payment system. Program evaluation includes both merit-based peer review and alignment with federal priorities. Awardees must submit progress reports during the project period and participate in ongoing federal monitoring and technical assistance. SAMHSA staff play an active role in oversight, reflecting the cooperative agreement structure of the funding. This grant is part of a broader federal effort to improve access to high-quality behavioral health care and strengthen state-level systems for long-term service delivery improvements.

Ensure strong alignment with SAMHSA strategic priorities; demonstrate clear stakeholder engagement; provide measurable objectives tied to identified service gaps; ensure interagency coordination is well documented