FY2026 Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements

The FY2026 Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements is a funding opportunity offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a sub-agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA is responsible for improving the quality and availability of treatment and rehabilitative services for individuals suffering from substance abuse and mental illness. In line with its broader mission, this opportunity focuses specifically on enhancing the responsiveness and cultural appropriateness of the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline services for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This grant program is designed to increase the effectiveness of the 988 crisis response system for AI/AN populations by improving the connection and response to 988 contacts, including calls, chats, and texts, originating from Tribal communities or initiated by AI/AN individuals. The underlying aim is to ensure that 988 crisis services are better aligned with the unique cultural, linguistic, and systemic needs of these communities. The program recognizes that Tribal communities often face additional barriers in accessing mental health services and seeks to remedy these disparities through targeted, community-led interventions. Up to 20 cooperative agreements are expected to be awarded under this program, with a total estimated funding pool of $20,000,000. However, specific award ceilings and floors have not yet been published in the forecast. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, which may help widen access and participation among eligible applicants. The funding mechanism used will be a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial federal involvement in the execution and oversight of funded projects. Eligible applicants for this program are federally recognized Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations. These entities may apply either individually or as part of a consortium. This focused eligibility ensures that the funding directly supports Tribal infrastructure and builds capacity within organizations already embedded in and trusted by the communities they serve. This program is not open to state governments, local governments, nonprofits, or private institutions unless they meet the specified Tribal eligibility criteria. As of the current date, this opportunity is still in the forecasted stage, with the estimated posting date set for May 1, 2026. The exact application due date, award date, and project start date have not been specified in the forecast. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor the Grants.gov listing and the SAMHSA website for updates and the eventual release of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Prospective applicants should prepare to engage quickly after the NOFO is released due to the typically short windows for federal grant applications. For questions or further details about this grant opportunity, applicants may contact James Wright at SAMHSA by phone at (240) 276-1615 or via email at [email protected]. There is currently no direct link to a PDF version of the NOFO, as this opportunity remains forecasted. Applicants are advised to check Grants.gov regularly for additional documentation and official publication.