The FY2026 Cooperative Agreements for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Crisis Center Follow-Up Programs, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is designed to bolster the support infrastructure for individuals in crisis. SAMHSA, a federal agency, leads public health efforts to advance behavioral health and reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. This funding initiative aims to strengthen the capabilities of crisis centers that are already integrated into the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline network.
This program specifically supports follow-up services delivered by eligible crisis centers after initial contact through the 988 Lifeline. Its goal is to prevent suicide, drug overdoses, and future crises by ensuring that individuals receive ongoing support, connection to community-based care, and risk-reduction interventions. By funding centers to continue engaging individuals beyond the initial crisis moment, SAMHSA seeks to expand the continuum of care and improve outcomes for high-risk populations.
The program will distribute approximately $7.5 million in total funding across an estimated 30 awards, suggesting a competitive application process with potentially varied award sizes. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement by SAMHSA in project implementation. Eligible applicants are restricted to crisis centers that are active participants in the 988 Lifeline network and provide services on a 24/7 basis. This ensures that funds go to entities with the operational capacity and infrastructure to support sustained follow-up services.
Although this is a forecasted opportunity, SAMHSA has outlined an estimated application release date of April 15, 2026. Final deadlines and award dates have not yet been specified. Interested applicants should monitor grants.gov and SAMHSA's official site closely for updates as the opportunity transitions from forecast to open status. As with most federal grants, applicants are expected to register in required systems such as Grants.gov and SAM.gov prior to submission.
No cost-sharing or matching funds are required for this opportunity, reducing the financial barrier for eligible centers. Evaluation criteria, application components, and detailed submission instructions are expected to be published alongside the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) once the opportunity goes live. This early notice allows potential applicants to begin preparing the groundwork for a responsive application.
For inquiries, the primary point of contact listed is James Wright, who can be reached at (240) 276-1615 or via email at [email protected]. Entities seeking funding should ensure they meet all eligibility criteria and are prepared to begin the application process as soon as the funding opportunity becomes active in 2026.
