health · HHS-SAMHS-SAMHSA

Cooperative Agreements for States and Territories to Improve Local 988 Capacity

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis · FG-26-002

Closed

Award Range

$0 – $20.2M

Total Program Funding

$211.1M

Expected Awards

Deadline

July 17, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

SAMHSA is distributing $211M across 56 awards (up to $20M each!) for states and territories to improve local 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline capacity. This is the major federal investment in building state-level crisis response infrastructure — funding crisis centers, mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units, and the workforce to staff them. Every state/territory that applies essentially receives funding.

Who Should Apply

State behavioral health authorities, state mental health agencies, or designated state 988 coordinating entities. Only one applicant per state/territory.

Who Should NOT Apply

Local crisis centers (they benefit but can't apply directly), nonprofits (must go through the state), or entities other than the designated state behavioral health authority.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must be the state/territorial behavioral health authority
•Must improve local 988 capacity (crisis centers, mobile teams, stabilization)
•56 awards up to $20M each ($211M total)
•Must build comprehensive crisis response continuum
•Must develop crisis workforce
•No cost-sharing required

💡 GrantQuick Tip

56 awards for 56 states/territories means every state that applies gets funded. This is essentially formula funding through a competitive mechanism. If you're the state behavioral health authority, submit a comprehensive application showing how you'll build the crisis continuum: someone answers the 988 call → mobile team dispatched if needed → crisis stabilization if needed → transition to ongoing care. Show specific capacity targets (X new crisis counselors, Y mobile teams, Z stabilization beds).

Competitiveness: Very low — 56 awards for 56 eligible state/territory entities. All who apply receive funding.

What This Grant Funds

The purpose of this program is to improve state and territory response to all 988 contacts (including calls, chats, and texts) originating in the state/territory and improve service for populations at high risk of suicide and overdose.

Who Can Apply

Eligibility is limited to State and territorial government agencies, including the District of Columbia; Guam; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the Northern Mariana Islands; the Virgin Islands; and American Samoa.

Eligible Applicant Types

Other (see NOFO for details)

Funding Details

Maximum Award: $20.2M
Total Program Funding: $211.1M
Expected Number of Awards: 56
Cost Sharing Required?: No
Funding Instrument: cooperative_agreement

Key Dates

Posted: June 17, 2026

Application Deadline: July 17, 2026 (0 days remaining)

Agency Contact

Office of Financial Resources Division of Grants Management 240-276-1940

NOFOBudget.CMHS@samhsa.hhs.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov