Consumer and Consumer Support Technical Assistance Center

The Consumer and Consumer Support Technical Assistance Center program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This federal initiative is authorized under the Public Health Service Act and is designed to strengthen national capacity to address mental health needs, particularly for individuals experiencing serious mental illness. The program establishes a single national Technical Assistance Center that will provide training, coordination, and strategic support across multiple service systems. According to the notice, the program emphasizes integrating peer perspectives into behavioral health systems and advancing workforce development through peer-led services. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to fund the development and operation of a national center dedicated to delivering training and technical assistance that supports peer-run organizations and expands the behavioral health peer workforce. The center is expected to improve organizational readiness, sustainability, and service delivery models across behavioral health, physical health, homelessness services, and justice-related systems. The initiative prioritizes strengthening partnerships and ensuring that peer voices are integrated into systems serving individuals with serious mental illness, thereby improving access, coordination, and outcomes. Funding for this opportunity is substantial, with an estimated annual award of up to 1782291 dollars and a total project period of up to five years. Only one award is expected to be made. Funds must primarily support national training and technical assistance activities, including needs assessments, implementation planning, outreach, and product development. Restrictions apply to the use of funds, including prohibitions on certain policy-related activities and limitations on indirect costs, which are capped at eight percent. Cost sharing is not required, which reduces financial barriers for eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include a wide range of domestic public and private nonprofit entities, including state and local governments, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations such as faith-based entities. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to manage a national program and deliver high-quality technical assistance. They are also required to designate key personnel, including a full-time project director responsible for oversight and compliance. The program mandates collaboration with other SAMHSA-supported initiatives and alignment with federal priorities related to mental health and recovery. The application process requires submission through federal systems such as Grants.gov and eRA Commons. Applicants must complete several required components, including a project narrative, budget narrative, and supporting attachments such as a project timeline and documentation of nonprofit status. The project narrative is limited to fifteen pages and must address evaluation criteria related to need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection. Additional required forms include standard federal grant forms such as the SF-424 and SF-424A. Applications will be reviewed through a multi-step process that includes eligibility screening, merit review, and risk assessment. Evaluation criteria focus on the proposed approach, organizational experience, and the ability to measure and report outcomes. Awards are expected to be announced by early September 2026, with project activities beginning by the end of that month. The program requires ongoing reporting, including annual progress reports and a final cumulative report at the end of the project period. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is July 31 2026. There is no indication of recurring funding cycles, suggesting this is a discrete opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to begin registration processes early due to the complexity of federal submission systems. Overall, this program represents a significant federal investment in strengthening the behavioral health workforce and improving systems of care through peer-driven approaches.

Align proposal with SAMHSA strategic priorities and clearly demonstrate national impact and measurable outcomes; ensure compliance with required activities and reporting