Statewide Consumer Network

The Statewide Consumer Network grant program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for advancing behavioral health nationwide. This funding opportunity is authorized under the Public Health Service Act and is designed to strengthen mental health systems by investing in peer-led organizations. SAMHSA’s broader mission includes improving access to treatment, supporting recovery, and expanding the behavioral health workforce, particularly for individuals with serious mental illness and youth transitioning into adulthood. The primary purpose of this program is to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of statewide mental health peer-run organizations. These organizations are led and staffed by individuals with lived experience of mental illness, and they play a critical role in providing peer support, advocacy, and systems-level engagement. The program focuses on enhancing organizational infrastructure, leadership, and long-term viability while expanding the peer workforce and ensuring that individuals with lived experience have a meaningful voice in shaping mental health services and policies across their state. Funding under this program supports capacity-building activities rather than direct service delivery. Allowable uses include strengthening governance and leadership structures, implementing financial and data systems, developing workforce training programs, and increasing peer representation in advisory bodies and policy discussions. Applicants are required to implement a statewide plan within three months of award and update it annually. This plan must outline strategies to expand peer workforce capacity, enhance peer engagement, and improve organizational sustainability. Certain activities are explicitly prohibited, including the use of funds for food, capital infrastructure purchases outside allowable depreciation, and initiatives that conflict with federal policies outlined in the notice. Eligibility is limited to domestic public and private nonprofit entities, including state governments, tribal organizations, political subdivisions, and other nonprofit organizations. However, applications are restricted to states that do not currently have an active Statewide Consumer Network grant, and only one award may be made per eligible state. Applicants must also demonstrate that more than 50 percent of their board or advisory council consists of individuals with lived experience of serious mental illness or youth transitioning to adulthood. Additional documentation, including proof of nonprofit status and a certification letter regarding board composition, is required for eligibility screening. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and eRA Commons, with prior registration in SAM.gov. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive application package that includes a project narrative, budget narrative, project abstract, and multiple attachments such as letters of commitment, data collection plans, and a detailed project timeline. The project narrative is limited to ten pages and must address specific evaluation criteria, including need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection methods. Applications undergo an initial eligibility screening followed by a merit review process based on predefined scoring criteria. The application deadline is June 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be announced around September 1, 2026, with a project start date of September 30, 2026. The project period may last up to three years, with annual continuation contingent on performance, compliance, and funding availability. During the grant period, recipients must participate in technical assistance activities, submit annual progress reports, and collect and report performance data on a quarterly basis. For additional information, applicants may contact SAMHSA program staff. Program and eligibility inquiries can be directed to Angie Walker, while financial questions are handled by the Division of Grants Management. Review-related questions may be addressed to Toni Davidson. These contacts provide guidance throughout the application and award process, ensuring applicants understand requirements and expectations.

Ensure alignment with SAMHSA strategic priorities; provide measurable objectives tied to need; strictly follow formatting and page limits; include all required attachments or application may be rejected