Behavioral Health and Community Safety Partnerships

The Behavioral Health and Community Safety Partnerships grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This federal funding opportunity is designed to address the intersection of behavioral health and public safety by supporting community-based initiatives that respond to the impacts of crime, violence, and disorder. SAMHSA, as a leading federal agency focused on improving mental health and reducing substance use disorders, provides funding through discretionary programs such as this to strengthen systems of care and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations across the United States. The primary purpose of this grant program is to support communities in reducing the behavioral health impacts associated with crime and violence while simultaneously strengthening community safety systems. The program emphasizes improving outcomes for youth, families, and individuals affected by these challenges. Funded initiatives are expected to focus on collaborative partnerships that bring together behavioral health providers, community organizations, and public safety entities. These partnerships are intended to create coordinated responses that address both immediate and long-term needs of affected populations. Funding under this opportunity is expected to support a range of activities aligned with its core objectives. While specific allowable costs are not detailed in the forecast, typical SAMHSA grants support program development, service delivery, workforce training, community engagement, and evaluation efforts. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding opportunity, which lowers barriers for eligible applicants and allows organizations to focus resources on program implementation rather than securing additional matching funds. Eligibility for this grant is limited to domestic public entities and private nonprofit organizations. This includes a broad range of applicants such as state and local governments, community-based nonprofit organizations, and potentially other qualifying public or nonprofit entities that meet federal eligibility requirements. The emphasis on domestic applicants indicates that all funded activities must take place within the United States or its territories and directly benefit U.S.-based populations. As a forecasted opportunity, this grant has not yet opened for applications. The estimated posting date is May 29, 2026, at which point full application instructions and requirements are expected to be released. At this stage, no specific application deadline, submission components, or evaluation criteria have been published. Applicants should anticipate a standard federal grant application process through Grants.gov, which typically includes registration, submission of narrative and budget documents, and compliance with federal administrative requirements. The program anticipates awarding approximately 12 grants with an estimated total program funding amount of 9,200,000 dollars. While individual award amounts, project timelines, and start dates have not yet been specified, these details are expected to be included in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity upon release. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare organizational materials in advance. For additional information, applicants may contact the program representative, Jessica Leopold, via phone or email as provided in the opportunity listing.