BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Family-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program | Apply Online

FAQs: BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Family-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program

What is this grant opportunity?

The BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Family-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It funds family-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services for justice-involved parents who have SUD and are either pregnant or have minor children.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The core purpose is to improve outcomes for justice-involved parents by providing SUD treatment and recovery supports in a way that strengthens reentry and public safety. The program aims to reduce recidivism while supporting healthier, more stable outcomes for both the parent and their children.

Who is the program intended to serve?

The program targets justice-involved parents with substance use disorders who are pregnant or who have minor children. The focus is specifically on people under correctional control.

What does "under correctional control" mean in this context?

It means the person is involved with the justice system in a way that includes custody or supervision. The NOFO describes settings including jail or prison, and community contexts such as community-based supervision or programs that function as alternatives to incarceration.

What kinds of services does the grant support?

The opportunity supports family-based SUD treatment and recovery support services. The description emphasizes treatment and recovery supports that can be delivered within correctional environments and/or connected to participants through diversion, reentry, and community-based programming.

What does "family-based" mean for this program?

Based on the description provided, "family-based" signals that BJA is looking for approaches that do not treat addiction in isolation. Instead, programming should recognize parenting status, family relationships, and child well-being as central to recovery and successful reintegration.

Does this program have a public safety or reentry focus?

Yes. The program is designed with a public-safety and reentry lens, aiming to reduce recidivism while strengthening reentry success and supporting stable outcomes for parents and children.

Where can funded programming take place?

Projects may operate in correctional environments (such as jail or prison settings) and/or in the community, including community-based supervision and programs that serve as alternatives to incarceration.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across government and nonprofit sectors, but applicants must apply under the correct category. Eligible applicants listed include state governments, counties, cities or townships, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations (including faith-based organizations), both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). An "Others" category is also listed, which may allow additional entity types as specified in the full NOFO.

What are the application categories and who should use them?

State, local, and tribal governments apply under Category 1. Nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, apply under Category 2.

Are faith-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The NOFO clarifies that faith-based organizations are eligible. This may include religious organizations, faith-based nonprofits, or groups with religious charters, names, or missions.

What does "other units of local government" include?

The NOFO clarifies that "other units of local government" can include towns, parishes, villages, or similar general-purpose political subdivisions within a state.

Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?

Yes. The eligible applicant types listed include nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.

Are institutions of higher education eligible as applicants?

No. The eligibility description explicitly excludes institutions of higher education.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $1,000,000.

How many awards will BJA make?

The provided information does not include the expected number of awards (it is left blank in the provided source data). Applicants would need to consult the full announcement for projected award volume.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172700.

When is the application due?

The application closing date is September 24, 2026.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on August 17, 2026.

What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number?

The opportunity is aligned with CFDA/Assistance Listing 16.812.

What is the activity category for this grant?

The activity category falls under Law, Justice and Legal Services.

Does the excerpt include details like project period, match requirements, or award ranges?

No. The excerpt does not provide the project period length, required match (if any), anticipated funding ranges, or other key administrative details. Those items would need to be confirmed in the full NOFO.

What types of outcomes is BJA aiming to improve?

The expected impact described is twofold: improved recovery and stability for parents returning to their communities, and better social, health, and developmental outcomes for their children, alongside the public-safety goal of lowering recidivism.

Does this opportunity support diversion or alternatives to incarceration?

Yes. The description notes that services may be delivered as part of diversion or community-based programming, including programs that serve as alternatives to incarceration.

What is the practical emphasis of the projects BJA is looking for?

The opportunity emphasizes structured, evidence-informed SUD treatment and wraparound recovery supports tailored to justice-involved parents, with programming capable of operating inside facilities, during reentry, and/or in community-based alternative-to-incarceration settings.