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

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant is a federal discretionary funding opportunity administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing 93.696 and is intended to support the development and establishment of new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics across the United States. The program is forecasted for Fiscal Year 2026 and was published on Grants.gov as a forecasted opportunity under opportunity number SM-26-014. SAMHSA designed this initiative to address gaps in behavioral health service delivery systems and improve outcomes for individuals living with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The opportunity is expected to continue the federal government's broader effort to expand access to coordinated, community-based behavioral healthcare services. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to assist eligible organizations in developing and implementing new Community Behavioral Health Clinics capable of delivering comprehensive behavioral health services. According to the opportunity description, the program seeks to improve the wellbeing of persons with mental health and substance use disorders by strengthening access to care and expanding service capacity. CCBHCs are generally expected to provide coordinated behavioral health services, including crisis response, outpatient mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, care coordination, and community-based support services. Although the forecast notice does not yet provide detailed allowable cost guidance or implementation requirements, the intent of the program is clearly focused on establishing new clinic infrastructure and increasing behavioral healthcare availability in underserved and high-need communities. Eligibility for the opportunity is statutorily restricted. Eligible applicants are limited to community-based behavioral health nonprofit organizations and organizations that either operate as part of a local government behavioral health authority, are operated under the authority of the Indian Health Service, an Indian tribe, or tribal organization, or function as an Urban Indian Organization pursuant to a grant or contract with the Indian Health Service under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The notice specifically identifies these eligibility pathways and indicates that the opportunity is not open to unrestricted applicants. Because the eligibility language includes nonprofit behavioral health organizations, tribal entities, and local governmental behavioral health authorities, applicants will need to demonstrate qualifying organizational status and authority consistent with federal statutory requirements. The opportunity is forecasted rather than fully posted, meaning detailed application instructions and required forms have not yet been released. The Grants.gov notice indicates an estimated posting date of May 29, 2026. As of the latest update, no official application due date, award date, project start date, or performance period has been provided. Similarly, the forecast notice does not yet include detailed information regarding application components, evaluation criteria, required attachments, or review methodology. Applicants should expect that a future Notice of Funding Opportunity will contain additional guidance regarding registration requirements, submission mechanics, project narratives, staffing plans, budget documentation, implementation timelines, and reporting expectations. Because the opportunity is expected to be administered through federal grants systems, organizations will likely need active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations before submitting applications once the official announcement is released. The estimated total program funding for the initiative is $94,000,000 with an anticipated 94 awards expected nationwide. The notice does not currently provide an award ceiling or award floor, and no matching or cost sharing requirement is identified. The opportunity category is listed as Health and the funding instrument type is identified as a grant. Since the notice specifies that cost sharing or matching is not required, applicants are not expected to provide nonfederal matching funds as part of the application process. Additional funding details, including anticipated award sizes, period of performance, indirect cost guidance, and budget limitations, will likely become available when the full Notice of Funding Opportunity is officially posted. SAMHSA has identified Abdallah Ibrahim as the contact person for the opportunity. Questions may be directed to ccbhcnofo@samhsa.hhs.gov or by telephone at (240) 276-1833. The opportunity remains in forecast status as of the May 12, 2026 update on Grants.gov. Because the opportunity has not yet opened for applications, organizations interested in applying should monitor Grants.gov and SAMHSA announcements for release of the complete funding announcement, eligibility clarifications, and submission deadlines. The forecasted nature of the opportunity indicates that applicants currently remain in an early engagement phase and should use this period to prepare organizational documentation, assess readiness for CCBHC implementation, and develop strategic partnerships necessary for future application submission.

Organizations should prepare early for CCBHC implementation planning partnerships and behavioral health infrastructure development because the opportunity focuses on expanding community behavioral health access.