Opportunity Information: Apply for SM 26 013

  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Children's Mental Health Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.104.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-06.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 22 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for SM 26 013

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Opportunity Summary:

The Children s Mental Health Initiative is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) focused on expanding and strengthening comprehensive, community-based mental health services for children, youth, and young adults from birth through age 21 who have a serious emotional disturbance. The program is designed to support communities in building coordinated systems of care that can deliver the right mix of services and supports across settings such as schools, primary care, behavioral health providers, child welfare, juvenile justice, and other family-serving systems. In addition to serving young people with identified serious emotional disturbance, the initiative also allows efforts aimed at identifying and supporting children who may be at risk, along with services and supports for their families, reflecting an emphasis on early identification, prevention, and family-centered care.

Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement, which generally means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as providing technical assistance, monitoring implementation, and collaborating on key components to help ensure the program meets federal goals and performance expectations. The opportunity is categorized under the Health funding activity area and is associated with CFDA number 93.104. The funding opportunity number is SM 26 013, and the program anticipates making approximately 22 awards. Individual awards can be as high as 3,000,000 dollars (award ceiling), which indicates the program is intended to support sizable, multi-partner community efforts rather than small, stand-alone projects.

Eligibility is limited by statute and is restricted to public entities and tribal governments or organizations. Eligible applicants include state governments and certain U.S. territories and freely associated states, specifically the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Also eligible are governmental units within political subdivisions of a state, such as counties, cities, and towns. In addition, any Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in sections 4(b) and 4(c) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, may apply. This eligibility structure signals that SAMHSA is aiming for system-level change led by government and tribal entities with the authority and convening power to coordinate across multiple child-serving sectors.

Key dates provided for this opportunity include a creation date of March 6, 2026, and an original application closing date of April 20, 2026. Overall, the grant is oriented toward building or enhancing community-wide capacity to deliver comprehensive mental health services for young people with significant needs, improving coordination among providers and systems, and supporting families as core partners in care, with sufficient funding to implement broad, integrated approaches at scale.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Children's Mental Health Initiative?

The Children's Mental Health Initiative is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It focuses on expanding and strengthening comprehensive, community-based mental health services for children, youth, and young adults.

Who is the initiative intended to serve?

The initiative is intended for children, youth, and young adults from birth through age 21 who have a serious emotional disturbance. It also allows efforts aimed at identifying and supporting children who may be at risk, along with services and supports for their families.

What age range is covered under this grant?

The target population spans from birth through age 21.

What primary needs or conditions does the program focus on?

The program focuses on young people who have a serious emotional disturbance, and it also supports early identification and prevention efforts for children who may be at risk.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The main purpose is to help communities build and strengthen coordinated systems of care that can deliver the right mix of services and supports across multiple settings and child-serving systems.

What does "community-based" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the description, "community-based" refers to services delivered through coordinated local systems that connect multiple community settings and sectors (for example, schools and healthcare) to meet youth and family needs.

What is meant by a "system of care" in this grant?

A system of care refers to a coordinated approach where multiple child- and family-serving systems work together to provide comprehensive mental health services and supports across settings.

Which systems or settings are expected to be involved in the coordinated approach?

The opportunity highlights coordination across settings such as schools, primary care, behavioral health providers, child welfare, juvenile justice, and other family-serving systems.

Does the initiative support services for families as well as youth?

Yes. The initiative includes services and supports for families and emphasizes family-centered care, with families treated as core partners in care.

Does the program allow prevention or early identification activities?

Yes. In addition to serving young people with an identified serious emotional disturbance, the initiative allows efforts aimed at identifying and supporting children who may be at risk, reflecting an emphasis on early identification and prevention.

What type of federal funding mechanism is used?

Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project period. The description specifically notes involvement such as providing technical assistance, monitoring implementation, and collaborating on key components to help ensure the program meets federal goals and performance expectations.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?

This opportunity is categorized under the Health funding activity area.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 93.104.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is SM 26 013.

How many awards does SAMHSA expect to make?

The program anticipates making approximately 22 awards.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

Individual awards can be as high as $3,000,000 (the award ceiling).

What does the award ceiling suggest about the size and scope of projects?

The stated ceiling indicates the program is intended to support sizable, multi-partner community efforts rather than small, stand-alone projects.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited by statute and is restricted to public entities and tribal governments or organizations. Eligible applicants include state governments, certain U.S. territories and freely associated states, governmental units within political subdivisions of a state (such as counties, cities, and towns), and any Indian tribe or tribal organization as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

Are non-governmental nonprofits eligible to apply?

Based on the eligibility statement provided, eligibility is restricted to public entities and tribal governments or organizations. Other types of entities are not listed as eligible.

Are counties, cities, or towns eligible applicants?

Yes. Governmental units within political subdivisions of a state, such as counties, cities, and towns, are explicitly listed as eligible.

Which U.S. territories and freely associated states are listed as eligible?

The eligible jurisdictions listed include the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Any Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in sections 4(b) and 4(c) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, may apply.

Why does the eligibility focus on public and tribal entities?

The description indicates this structure signals SAMHSA is aiming for system-level change led by government and tribal entities with the authority and convening power to coordinate across multiple child-serving sectors.

What is the creation date listed for this opportunity?

The creation date provided is March 6, 2026.

What is the original application closing date?

The original application closing date is April 20, 2026.

What are the core goals of the initiative as described?

The initiative is oriented toward building or enhancing community-wide capacity to deliver comprehensive mental health services for young people with significant needs, improving coordination among providers and systems, and supporting families as core partners in care.

What kinds of partnerships or coordination does SAMHSA appear to be looking for?

The opportunity emphasizes coordinated systems of care across multiple child-serving sectors and settings, including schools, primary care, behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, and other family-serving systems.

Is the program focused only on treatment, or also on identifying risk?

It is not limited to treatment only. The description explicitly allows efforts for identifying and supporting children who may be at risk and reflects an emphasis on early identification and prevention.

Does this opportunity emphasize performance expectations and oversight?

Yes. Because it is a cooperative agreement, the description notes SAMHSA expects substantial involvement, including technical assistance, monitoring implementation, and collaboration to ensure the program meets federal goals and performance expectations.

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