Behavioral Health Center Grants

Federal and state grants support behavioral health centers and organizations providing integrated mental health and substance abuse services. Find funding for facility operations, staffing, program development, infrastructure, and serving communities with comprehensive behavioral health care.

Types of Behavioral Health Center Grants

Operations & Facility Support

Grants supporting the day-to-day operations and facilities of behavioral health organizations.

• General operations funding
• Facility maintenance and equipment
• Technology and electronic health records (EHR)
• Quality improvement initiatives

Workforce Development & Training

Funding for behavioral health workforce training, development, and recruitment.

• Staff recruitment and retention
• Behavioral health provider training
• Evidence-based practice implementation training
• Peer specialist and paraprofessional training

Integrated Care Programs

Grants for developing and expanding integrated mental health and substance abuse services.

• Integrated behavioral health in primary care
• Mental health and substance abuse coordination
• Co-occurring disorder program development
• Medication-assisted treatment integration

Population-Specific Services

Funding for behavioral health services targeting specific populations and communities.

• Minority and underserved community behavioral health
• Rural and frontier community services
• Homeless and justice-involved populations
• LGBTQ+ affirming behavioral health services

Eligibility for Behavioral Health Center Grants

Nonprofit Behavioral Health Organizations

Nonprofit community mental health centers, substance abuse treatment agencies, and integrated behavioral health organizations are eligible for most federal and state grants. Entities must be 501(c)(3) or state-designated.

Health Centers and Healthcare Systems

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), community health centers, healthcare systems, and primary care practices developing or expanding behavioral health services are eligible for integration and capacity grants.

Public Health and Government Agencies

State and local health departments, county behavioral health agencies, and public mental health systems can apply for grants supporting community-level behavioral health programs and services.

Tribal and Special Population Entities

Tribal behavioral health organizations, homeless service providers, criminal justice agencies, and organizations serving vulnerable populations have specific and targeted grant opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grants support community behavioral health center operations?

SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) and Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (CMHSBG), HRSA Community Health Center grants, and state behavioral health agency grants all support operations. SAMHSA also offers targeted grants for specific populations and services. Funding often requires serving low-income and vulnerable populations.

Are there grants for integrating behavioral health into primary care?

Yes. HRSA's Primary Care Workforce grants, SAMHSA Integration grants, and SAMHSA-HRSA joint funding support integrated behavioral health in primary care settings. These grants fund training, staffing, and systems development for integrated care models. Several states also offer integration-specific grants.

What funding is available for behavioral health workforce development?

HRSA Health Professions Opportunity Grants (HPOG), SAMHSA-funded training, NIDA and NIAAA workforce grants, and state workforce development grants all support behavioral health professional training. These include funding for peer specialists, paraprofessionals, and licensed practitioners in underserved areas.

Can behavioral health centers apply for grants for electronic health records (EHR)?

Yes. HRSA provides funding for EHR implementation and meaningful use in health centers. SAMHSA supported several EHR grants for behavioral health organizations. HHS ONC has legacy EHR grants. HRSA Primary Care grants and Health Center grants include technology and EHR support components.

Are there specific grants for rural behavioral health centers?

Yes. HRSA Rural Health grants, USDA Rural Development, SAMHSA Rural Behavioral Health grants, and state rural health programs specifically support behavioral health in rural areas. National Health Service Corps (NHSC) places funded clinicians in rural behavioral health settings. Loan repayment programs support rural behavioral health workforce.

Who are the main funders of behavioral health center grants?

Primary funders: SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) administers the largest behavioral health grants, HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse), NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health), and state behavioral health agencies. Foundations including Robert Wood Johnson, Casey, and Mellon also fund behavioral health centers.

Behavioral Health Center Resources

SAMHSA Grants & Funding

SAMHSA.gov provides comprehensive information on behavioral health grants including Block Grants, targeted grants, and technical assistance for behavioral health centers.

HRSA Health Center Program

HRSA.gov lists grants for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and health center look-alikes, including behavioral health integration support.

NIDA & NIAAA Grants

NIDA.nih.gov and NIAAA.nih.gov offer grants for behavioral health organization research, program development, and training initiatives.

State Agency Programs

Each state's Department of Health and Mental Health Agency administers state-specific grants for behavioral health center operations and expansion.