Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant is offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA is responsible for advancing behavioral health nationwide through programs that expand access to mental health and substance use services. This funding opportunity is designed to support the development of new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which are intended to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for individuals experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. The program is authorized under federal statute and aligns with broader national priorities related to public health, overdose prevention, and access to care. The primary purpose of this grant program is to establish and operationalize new community behavioral health clinics that meet the federal CCBHC Certification Criteria. These clinics must deliver a full spectrum of nine required services, including crisis care, outpatient treatment, case management, and peer supports, to individuals across the lifespan. The initiative seeks to address gaps in behavioral health services, improve care coordination, and reduce adverse outcomes such as hospitalization, suicide, and overdose. Applicants are required to demonstrate readiness to build infrastructure, staffing, and service delivery systems that meet certification requirements within one year of award. Funding under this opportunity is substantial, with an estimated total program funding of ninety-four million dollars and approximately ninety-four awards expected. Each award may provide up to one million dollars per year for a project period of up to four years. Funds are primarily intended to support direct service delivery, infrastructure development, workforce capacity, and systems needed to meet certification standards. While certain activities such as training, care coordination, and technology implementation are allowable, restrictions apply, including limitations on inpatient services, housing costs, and activities inconsistent with federal policy priorities. Cost sharing is not required for this program. Eligibility is limited to specific organizational types, including community-based behavioral health nonprofit organizations, entities affiliated with local government behavioral health authorities, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations. Applicants must meet strict operational criteria, including being licensed as providers of both mental health and substance use services and enrolled as Medicaid providers. They must also demonstrate prior experience serving behavioral health populations and the capacity to serve at least two hundred unduplicated individuals annually. Additional documentation, such as licensure verification, letters of commitment, and geographic service area mapping, is required as part of the application. The application process is comprehensive and includes submission through federal systems such as Grants.gov and eRA Commons. Required components include a project narrative, budget narrative, project abstract, and multiple attachments covering areas such as staffing, evaluation, and compliance. Applications are evaluated through a merit review process based on criteria including need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection plans. Applicants must also align with SAMHSA strategic priorities and demonstrate adherence to federal regulations and policies. Key dates for the program include an application deadline of August 17, 2026, with anticipated award decisions by mid-November 2026 and a project start date at the end of November 2026. Following award, recipients must meet ongoing reporting requirements, including annual progress reports and a final report at the end of the project period. The program is part of a recurring federal funding initiative, reflecting continued national investment in expanding behavioral health infrastructure and improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Ensure readiness to meet CCBHC certification within 12 months; clearly demonstrate capacity to deliver all nine required services; align proposal with SAMHSA strategic priorities and include strong data collection and evaluation methods