Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Team Partnerships

The Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Team Partnerships program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA’s mission focuses on improving behavioral health outcomes nationwide by expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder services. This funding opportunity is part of a broader federal effort to strengthen crisis response systems, particularly by reducing reliance on law enforcement and emergency departments during behavioral health crises. The program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act and aligns with national priorities to improve crisis care infrastructure and outcomes. The purpose of this program is to establish new or enhance existing mobile crisis teams that respond to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises. These teams are expected to provide rapid, community-based interventions, including stabilization, triage, and referrals to appropriate care. A central goal is to strengthen partnerships across crisis response systems, including 988 contact centers, 911 dispatch, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and community-based providers. Through these coordinated partnerships, the program aims to create a more efficient and humane crisis response system that prioritizes behavioral health-led interventions. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, with an estimated total program funding of over fifteen million dollars and approximately twenty awards anticipated. Each award may receive up to seven hundred fifty thousand dollars per year for a project period of up to four years. Funds are primarily intended for capacity building, including staffing, partnership development, training, and infrastructure to support mobile crisis services. Certain restrictions apply, including prohibitions on funding activities that conflict with federal policies outlined in the notice, and food and certain capital expenses are not allowable. No cost sharing or matching funds are required. Eligibility is limited to governmental and tribal entities, including states, political subdivisions, territories, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to implement required activities such as developing a mobile crisis implementation plan, establishing or enhancing crisis teams, formalizing partnerships, implementing continuous quality improvement processes, and delivering training. Additional expectations include planning for long-term financial sustainability and aligning activities with SAMHSA’s strategic priorities. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov or eRA Commons and includes several components such as a project abstract, project narrative, budget narrative, and multiple required attachments. Applicants must also complete standard federal forms including SF-424 and related budget forms. The project narrative is limited to ten pages and must address specific evaluation criteria, including population need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection strategies. Required attachments include letters of commitment, a project timeline, and documentation related to confidentiality and data protection. Applications are due by July 15, 2026, with awards expected to be announced by September 1, 2026, and project start dates anticipated by September 30, 2026. The review process includes an initial eligibility screening, followed by a merit review conducted by peer reviewers. Final funding decisions consider review scores, alignment with agency priorities, and availability of funds. Applicants may contact program, financial, or review staff at SAMHSA for guidance during the application process. Once awarded, recipients must comply with extensive reporting and performance measurement requirements, including quarterly data collection and annual progress reports. Key performance indicators include response times, service outcomes, and diversion from law enforcement or emergency departments. Recipients are also expected to participate in technical assistance activities and may be involved in cross-site evaluations. Overall, the program represents a significant federal investment in transforming behavioral health crisis response systems through coordinated, community-based care.