Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Improvement and Advancement Grant

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Improvement and Advancement program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA’s mission focuses on improving the quality and availability of behavioral health services nationwide, particularly for individuals experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. This funding opportunity is designed to build upon the existing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model, which was established to expand access to coordinated, community-based behavioral health services across the United States. The primary purpose of this program is to expand, sustain, and enhance services at existing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. These clinics are required to provide a comprehensive set of nine core services, including crisis services, outpatient mental health and substance use treatment, care coordination, and peer support services. The program emphasizes improving access to high-quality care for individuals across the lifespan, including children, youth, adults, and older adults. It also aims to reduce emergency room utilization, inpatient hospitalizations, suicide rates, and overdose incidents while improving overall health outcomes in communities. Funding is structured as a federal grant with an estimated total program funding exceeding one hundred million dollars, distributed across more than one hundred awards. Each award provides up to one million dollars per year for a project period of up to four years. Funds are intended primarily for direct service delivery, infrastructure improvements, workforce development, and quality enhancement initiatives. While funds may support activities such as health information technology, care coordination, and training, there are strict limitations on their use, including prohibitions on inpatient services, certain housing costs, and activities that conflict with federal policy directives. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to community-based behavioral health nonprofit organizations, local government behavioral health entities, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations that are already operating as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics or have previously met certification criteria. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to deliver all required services, maintain appropriate licensure, and be enrolled as Medicaid providers. Additional eligibility requirements include documentation of certification status, submission of multiple required attachments, and compliance with staffing and operational standards. The application process requires submission through federal systems including Grants.gov and eRA Commons, with applicants needing to complete multiple components such as a project narrative, budget narrative, and a series of required attachments. These attachments include documentation of licensure, certification compliance, geographic service area mapping, and letters of support. The evaluation process includes an initial eligibility screening followed by a merit-based peer review assessing need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection plans. Final funding decisions also consider alignment with federal priorities and available funding. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is August 17, 2026, with awards expected to be announced by mid-November 2026 and projects anticipated to begin by the end of November 2026. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Recipients are subject to ongoing reporting requirements, including annual progress reports and performance data submission through SAMHSA systems. The program is expected to continue supporting long-term improvements in behavioral health service delivery, with an emphasis on sustainability, quality improvement, and measurable outcomes.

Ensure full compliance with CCBHC certification criteria before applying; clearly demonstrate capacity to deliver all nine required services; align project goals with SAMHSA strategic priorities; provide strong data from community needs assessment to justify service expansion