Behavioral Health Services Grants

Federal and state grants support comprehensive behavioral health services integrating mental health and substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, preventive services, and community-based care. Find funding for behavioral health organizations, treatment providers, integrated care delivery systems, and programs addressing the full spectrum of behavioral health needs.

Types of Behavioral Health Services Grants

Integrated Behavioral Health Programs

Grants supporting integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment in primary care settings, community health centers, and comprehensive behavioral health programs.

• Integrated mental health and substance abuse services
• Co-occurring disorder treatment programs
• Behavioral health in primary care
• Collaborative care models

Crisis & Emergency Services

Funding for crisis intervention, 24/7 hotlines, mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization, and emergency behavioral health services.

• Crisis hotlines and warmlines
• Mobile crisis intervention teams
• Crisis stabilization services
• Emergency psychiatric services

Outpatient & Community Services

Grants for community-based behavioral health services, outpatient mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, peer support, and recovery programs.

• Outpatient mental health counseling
• Substance abuse counseling services
• Peer support and recovery coaching
• Assertive community treatment (ACT)

Prevention & Early Intervention

Funding for behavioral health prevention programs, early intervention, mental health promotion, screening, and population health initiatives.

• Mental health promotion programs
• Suicide prevention initiatives
• Substance abuse prevention
• Early intervention programs

Eligibility for Behavioral Health Services Grants

Behavioral Health Organizations

Behavioral health agencies, integrated care organizations, mental health and substance abuse treatment providers, and comprehensive behavioral health systems are eligible to apply.

Healthcare Providers & Systems

Hospitals, health systems, primary care clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and specialty behavioral health providers can apply for funding to develop integrated services.

Nonprofits & Community Organizations

Nonprofit behavioral health organizations, community mental health centers, recovery organizations, and community-based service providers serving diverse populations.

Public Health & Government Agencies

State health departments, county behavioral health departments, public health agencies, and local government agencies administering behavioral health programs.

Key Requirements

Organizational capacity for service delivery, ability to serve diverse populations, commitment to evidence-based practices, and often requirements to serve uninsured/underinsured individuals or populations with serious mental illness or substance use disorders.

Key Federal Behavioral Health Programs

SAMHSA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant

Primary federal funding mechanism for community-based mental health services, distributed to states for comprehensive behavioral health services.

HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Programs

Supports training and development of behavioral health workforce in primary care integration, mental health, and substance abuse treatment fields.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC)

Grants for establishing and operating comprehensive behavioral health clinics providing integrated mental health and substance abuse services.

State Opioid Response Grants

SAMHSA funding specifically for opioid use disorder treatment, prevention, and recovery support services within broader behavioral health systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "behavioral health" versus "mental health"?

Behavioral health is a broader term that includes mental health services, substance abuse/addiction treatment, and preventive health behaviors. Mental health focuses specifically on mental health conditions, while behavioral health encompasses the complete spectrum of physical, mental, and substance use health.

What is "integration" in behavioral health grants?

Integration means combining mental health and substance abuse treatment within the same organization or care system, rather than treating them separately. Integrated care improves outcomes and is increasingly emphasized in government grants.

Can primary care clinics apply for behavioral health grants?

Yes. Many grants specifically support integrating behavioral health into primary care. Organizations developing integrated mental health and substance abuse services in primary care settings are competitive applicants.

How do I demonstrate organizational capacity for behavioral health grants?

Demonstrate capacity through organizational documentation, staff credentials and training, past performance delivering health services, financial management systems, governance structure, and letters of support from community partners and local government.

What data/evaluation is needed for behavioral health grant applications?

Most grants require needs assessment data, outcome metrics, demographic information about your service population, performance data from past programs, and evaluation plans for the proposed project. Many use standardized measures like SAMHSA metrics.

Behavioral Health Grant Resources

Key Resources

Organizations & Networks

• National Association of State Mental Health Directors
• Community Mental Health Centers Association
• American Association for Community Psychiatrists
• CCBHC Expansion Coalition

Available Behavioral Health Services Grants

We're updating our behavioral health services grants database. Check back soon for the latest opportunities.

In the meantime, visit SAMHSA.gov and Grants.gov for behavioral health grant opportunities.