Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment

The Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment program is a federal discretionary grant initiative administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program is part of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance and reflects a continued federal commitment to addressing substance use disorders through early identification and intervention. SAMHSA has historically focused on improving behavioral health outcomes nationwide, particularly through prevention, treatment access, and system-level integration of services across healthcare and community settings. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the implementation of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment public health model across a variety of settings. The program is designed to identify individuals at risk of substance use disorders and provide timely intervention. It emphasizes screening for underage drinking, opioid use, and other substance use issues among children, adolescents, and adults. The initiative seeks to integrate these practices into primary care environments, community health systems, and educational institutions, thereby expanding early intervention capabilities within existing service infrastructures. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support the development and operationalization of screening and intervention protocols within eligible organizations. Allowable uses of funds include staffing, training, system integration, and service delivery associated with implementing SBIRT practices. The program is structured to support multiple awardees, with an anticipated eight grants distributed from a total program funding pool of approximately 7,960,000 dollars. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, lowering financial barriers for applicants and encouraging participation from a diverse range of entities. Eligibility for this program is broad and inclusive, encompassing states, political subdivisions of states, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, health facilities, and nonprofit entities. This includes organizations operating under contracts or awards with the Indian Health Service, as well as domestic public and private nonprofit institutions, including faith-based organizations. The program’s design reflects an intent to reach a wide range of service providers capable of implementing SBIRT models in both clinical and community-based environments. The application process is expected to follow standard federal grant submission procedures through Grants.gov once the opportunity is officially posted. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast notice, applicants can anticipate requirements such as program narratives, implementation plans, budget justifications, and organizational capacity documentation. Evaluation criteria will likely focus on the applicant’s ability to effectively implement SBIRT services, reach target populations, and demonstrate measurable outcomes in substance use prevention and treatment engagement. The opportunity is currently in a forecasted stage, with an estimated posting date of May 29, 2026. At the time of this analysis, no application deadline, award date, or project start date has been specified. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for updates and prepare organizational materials in advance. For additional information, applicants may contact the program officer via email or phone. The absence of a defined deadline suggests that further details will be provided upon official release of the funding opportunity announcement.