FY2026 Cooperative Agreements for States and Territories to Improve Local 988 Capacity

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting a funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreements for States and Territories to Improve Local 988 Capacity." This grant initiative aligns with SAMHSA’s mission to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. It focuses on strengthening crisis response systems through state and territory-based infrastructure improvements for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This line offers 24/7 call, chat, and text support for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use crisis, or any other mental health distress. The primary goal of this funding program is to enhance local response capacity for the 988 Lifeline across all U.S. states and territories. By improving the responsiveness to incoming 988 contacts—including voice calls, online chats, and text messages—the program seeks to ensure equitable access to lifesaving crisis services, particularly for individuals at high risk of suicide or overdose. SAMHSA aims to provide resources that support comprehensive service improvements at the local level, especially for vulnerable and marginalized populations. A total of 56 awards are expected, with one award per U.S. state and territory, including the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Only official state or territorial government agencies may apply. SAMHSA has instituted a competitive process in which, if multiple applications are submitted by one state or territory, the award will go to the application receiving the highest priority score. This ensures a standardized and performance-based selection framework. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which implies substantial federal involvement during the grant implementation period. The total estimated program funding is $211,100,000, though no specific award floor or ceiling has been announced at this time. As this is a forecasted opportunity, the application is not yet open. The estimated post date is May 1, 2026, with no definitive application due date, award date, or project start date currently specified. Importantly, cost sharing or matching is not required for this program. As a forecasted opportunity, this grant is not yet accepting applications. Entities interested in applying should prepare in advance by ensuring they meet the eligibility criteria and monitoring Grants.gov for updates on the formal release of the application materials. Pre-application requirements or optional sessions such as webinars have not been noted at this stage. The point of contact for this opportunity is James Wright, who can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at (240) 276-1615. This initiative is part of a broader national commitment to strengthening mental health and substance use disorder services by improving immediate access to crisis intervention. By enhancing 988 response systems at the local level, SAMHSA intends to foster long-term sustainability and effectiveness in addressing public mental health crises.