Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health grant program, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is designed to bolster mental health promotion and intervention efforts targeting young children. SAMHSA operates as a key federal agency committed to improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness. This forecasted grant opportunity reflects SAMHSA's strategic focus on advancing mental health services in early developmental stages and is aligned with national efforts to promote emotional well-being from infancy through early childhood. The primary purpose of this funding initiative is to support the development or enhancement of infant and early childhood mental health programs. These may include efforts aimed at promoting mental wellness, preventing the onset of mental disorders, and intervening early with effective treatment strategies for young children experiencing behavioral health challenges. By targeting these early years, the program seeks to positively influence developmental trajectories and ensure children receive critical support during foundational stages of life. The grant supports projects that may involve workforce development, family and caregiver engagement, integration with other health and education systems, or direct service delivery using evidence-based practices. Applicants are expected to propose comprehensive program designs that demonstrate cultural responsiveness, developmental appropriateness, and alignment with community needs. While the specific spending rules have not yet been detailed, it is expected that funds will be used to build capacity and sustainability of infant and early childhood mental health services within local, regional, or state systems. Eligibility is explicitly limited to human services agencies and nonprofit institutions, as mandated by statute. These entities must demonstrate capacity to either establish or enhance existing early childhood mental health initiatives. There are no stated cost-sharing or matching requirements, allowing for broader access to organizations that may lack supplemental funding but demonstrate significant potential impact and readiness. Applications will be evaluated based on program design, potential impact, sustainability, and alignment with SAMHSA’s broader mission. As this is a forecasted opportunity, no application or award dates have been finalized. However, the estimated post date for the funding opportunity is May 1, 2026, with anticipated availability of ten awards totaling approximately $5,087,530. The opportunity listing on Grants.gov notes that additional details, including submission instructions, timeline, and evaluation metrics, will be made available upon publication of the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov and SAMHSA’s website closely for updates. For preliminary inquiries or to express interest, applicants can contact Emily Lichvar at 240-276-1859 or by email at [email protected]. Given the program’s national scope, eligible applicants across the United States are encouraged to prepare in advance by aligning internal resources and reviewing existing programmatic models to strengthen potential submissions once the final NOFO is released.