Grants to Expand Substance Use Disorder Treatment Capacity in Adult and Family Treatment Drug Courts

The Grants to Expand Substance Use Disorder Treatment Capacity in Adult and Family Treatment Drug Courts program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This federal initiative falls under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance and is designed to strengthen the nation’s response to substance use disorders within the justice system. The program reflects a broader federal priority to integrate behavioral health services with criminal justice interventions in order to reduce recidivism and improve long-term recovery outcomes. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to expand substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services within existing adult and family treatment drug courts. These courts operate as specialized judicial programs that combine supervision, accountability, and treatment services for individuals with substance use disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system. The grant requires recipients to implement a coordinated, multisystem approach that leverages the authority of the court while integrating evidence-based clinical treatment and recovery support services. This approach is intended to address the root causes of substance use and criminal behavior simultaneously. Funding under this opportunity supports the delivery and expansion of evidence-based treatment services, recovery support systems, and collaborative program infrastructure. Allowable activities include strengthening partnerships among key stakeholders such as judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, law enforcement personnel, treatment providers, mental health professionals, and social service agencies. The program emphasizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration to ensure that participants receive comprehensive care that addresses both legal and health-related needs. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding, reducing financial barriers for eligible applicants. Eligible applicants are defined broadly as domestic public and private nonprofit entities. This includes organizations that are capable of operating within or in partnership with treatment drug courts and that can coordinate across multiple systems. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to deliver evidence-based substance use disorder treatment services and to engage effectively with justice system partners. The eligibility language indicates flexibility while maintaining a focus on nonprofit entities with the infrastructure necessary to manage federal grant funding and program implementation. The application process for this opportunity is not yet open, as it is currently in a forecasted stage. The estimated posting date is May 29, 2026, after which full application instructions, required forms, and submission procedures are expected to be released. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast, typical federal grant submissions through this agency include narrative proposals, budget justifications, and documentation of organizational capacity and partnerships. Applicants should prepare to submit through standard federal systems and comply with all reporting and compliance requirements. The program anticipates making approximately 19 awards with an estimated total program funding amount of 7,600,000 dollars. Although individual award ceilings and floors are not specified in the forecast, funding is expected to be distributed across multiple grantees to support program implementation over a defined project period. The timeline for application submission, award decisions, and project start dates has not yet been published, but these details will be clarified upon official release of the funding opportunity announcement. The overarching goal of this initiative is to disrupt the recurring cycle of substance use, criminal behavior, and incarceration by embedding effective treatment within the justice system. By supporting integrated service delivery models in drug courts, the program aims to improve individual recovery outcomes, enhance public safety, and reduce the long-term societal costs associated with untreated substance use disorders. The program is expected to follow a standard federal grant cycle, though recurrence details are not explicitly stated in the forecast.