FY2026 Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements

The FY2026 Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements grant, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is designed to enhance the effectiveness and cultural responsiveness of crisis response services provided through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for Tribal communities. This initiative is grounded in the recognition that American Indian and Alaska Native populations face significant disparities in behavioral health outcomes, including suicide rates, and often lack access to tailored, timely mental health support. SAMHSA, a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, oversees programs aimed at improving the availability and quality of substance abuse and mental health services across the United States. This grant opportunity supports federally recognized Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations, allowing for both individual applications and consortium submissions. Its primary purpose is to ensure that 988 crisis services—calls, chats, and texts—are effectively adapted and responsive to the specific needs of Native communities. Resources allocated under this cooperative agreement will help develop infrastructure, workforce, protocols, and partnerships needed to improve coordination, culturally competent responses, and follow-up care for individuals in crisis. The total estimated funding for this program is $20,000,000, with approximately 20 awards expected to be made. Specific award ceilings and floors have not been disclosed, indicating that funding allocations will likely depend on the scale and scope of each applicant’s proposed activities. There are no matching or cost-sharing requirements, allowing eligible entities to apply without the need to secure additional financial commitments. Funding will likely support a wide range of activities, such as hiring crisis response personnel, enhancing data systems for response tracking, and integrating Tribal crisis response protocols into broader behavioral health systems. Eligibility is explicitly limited to federally recognized Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations, reinforcing the program’s targeted support for Native communities. This exclusive eligibility ensures the program maintains a clear focus on improving outcomes for a population disproportionately affected by behavioral health crises and systemic service gaps. The application process is currently in the forecast stage, with an estimated posting date of April 15, 2026. At this stage, no details have been released regarding submission requirements, application components, or evaluation criteria. Applicants should prepare for a formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that will provide specifics on allowable activities, required documentation, submission deadlines, and scoring methodologies. James Wright is listed as the primary contact for this funding opportunity and can be reached at (240) 276-1615 or via email at [email protected]. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov and SAMHSA’s announcements closely for updates and publication of the full NOFO, as timelines, submission mechanics, and further requirements will be detailed therein. The grant is anticipated to be offered regularly, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen behavioral health infrastructure and responsiveness in Tribal settings.