Assertive Community Treatment

The Assertive Community Treatment program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This federal funding opportunity is designed to support the expansion or establishment of Assertive Community Treatment models, which are intensive, team based, and community based service delivery systems for individuals with serious mental illness. SAMHSA operates as a national agency focused on improving behavioral health outcomes, and this program aligns with its broader strategic priorities to expand access to evidence based mental health care and reduce negative outcomes such as hospitalization, homelessness, and justice system involvement. The primary purpose of this grant is to fund organizations that will implement or expand ACT programs serving transition aged youth, adults, and older adults with serious mental illness. ACT programs are designed to deliver comprehensive services including crisis intervention, psychiatric care, therapy, case management, and support for housing and employment. Services must be delivered by a single organization using a multidisciplinary team approach and must be available continuously, including 24 hours per day and seven days per week. The model emphasizes community based service delivery rather than office based care, with most services delivered in homes or other natural environments. Funding for this opportunity is substantial, with total program funding estimated at over four million dollars and approximately five awards anticipated. Each award may receive up to eight hundred thousand dollars per year for a project period of up to five years. Funding is contingent upon performance, compliance, and availability of federal funds. Allowable uses of funds focus primarily on direct service delivery, though additional activities such as workforce development, coordination with housing or justice systems, and health promotion initiatives may be supported. However, there are strict funding restrictions, including prohibitions on certain policy activities and requirements to align with federal regulations and agency priorities. Eligibility for this program is limited to specific public and organizational entities, including states, territories, political subdivisions, tribal organizations, mental health systems, and health care facilities. Applicants must demonstrate at least three years of experience delivering relevant mental health services and must provide documentation of licensure and compliance with applicable regulations. The program requires that all core activities be delivered directly by the applicant organization, ensuring capacity and experience in implementing intensive service models. The application process follows a structured federal submission pathway and requires registration with multiple systems including SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. Applicants must prepare a project abstract, a detailed project narrative, and a budget narrative, along with several required attachments such as a project timeline, staff qualifications, and documentation of nonprofit status where applicable. The project narrative is limited to ten pages and must address specific evaluation criteria including population need, implementation strategy, evidence based practices, organizational capacity, and data collection methods. Applications are evaluated through a multi stage review process beginning with an initial eligibility screening followed by a merit based peer review. Evaluation criteria emphasize the clarity of the proposed implementation approach, alignment with evidence based practices, organizational experience, and the ability to collect and use performance data. Final funding decisions also consider alignment with agency priorities, availability of funds, and risk assessment related to financial management and prior performance. Key dates for this opportunity include an application deadline in late July, with awards expected in early September and project start dates at the end of September. Services must begin within four months of the award. The program also includes extensive reporting and evaluation requirements, including ongoing data collection through SAMHSA systems and annual progress reporting. Applicants are encouraged to contact program officials for guidance, with dedicated contacts available for programmatic, financial, and review related inquiries.

Ensure strong alignment with SAMHSA strategic priorities demonstrate evidence based ACT model fidelity and clearly define measurable outcomes supported by data collection systems