Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA)

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Community-based Coalition Enhancement Grants to Address Local Drug Crises are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). This opportunity is released under funding number CDC-RFA-CE-26-0110. It builds on the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, which was created under the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 to strengthen community coalitions in their efforts to prevent substance misuse among youth. The CARA program serves as an enhancement to current or former DFC grantees, with a targeted focus on preventing and reducing opioid, methamphetamine, and prescription drug misuse among youth ages 12 to 18. The purpose of the CARA program is to address the escalating challenges of youth substance use and misuse at the local level by equipping community-based coalitions with the resources to implement prevention strategies. The emphasis is on fostering evidence-based and coalition-driven solutions that reduce availability and use of opioids, methamphetamines, and prescription drugs among adolescents. Funds may only be used for programmatic activities consistent with prevention objectives and coalition strengthening, not for direct treatment or unrelated programming. Eligibility for the CARA grant is limited to domestic public and private nonprofit entities that are current or former recipients of the DFC Support Program. Applicants must represent a legally recognized coalition or apply on behalf of one. Eligible entities include, but are not limited to, state and local governments, federally recognized and state-recognized tribes, tribal organizations, public and private universities, professional associations, voluntary organizations, consumer advocacy groups, self-help groups, and community- and faith-based organizations. Applicants must demonstrate sustained local data showing youth opioid misuse or methamphetamine use rates higher than the national average. The statutory authority, Section 103 of CARA, further limits eligibility to coalitions within the United States and its territories. Foreign entities are not eligible. Applications must be submitted electronically by January 21, 2026, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The solicitation was posted on September 30, 2025, and the opportunity is currently open and accepting applications. No pre-application deadlines, such as a Letter of Intent, are indicated in the notice. All submissions are made through Grants.gov, and applicants should ensure they complete all federal registration requirements well before the deadline. The archive date for this opportunity is February 20, 2026. While the announcement does not specify an award notification or project start date, the program follows standard federal grants management timelines. The total estimated program funding is $16,875,000, with approximately 45 awards anticipated. Each award is capped at $75,000, and there is no minimum floor requirement listed. Matching contributions are not required, as cost-sharing is not a condition of this award. Funding is expected to support a wide range of community coalitions across the United States that can demonstrate capacity to address youth substance misuse in alignment with CARA’s statutory objectives. Applications will be evaluated for eligibility, responsiveness to program goals, and demonstrated capacity of coalitions to impact youth substance misuse at the community level. Coalitions must show evidence of community partnerships, sustainability, and local data to justify the need for federal support. The announcement emphasizes compliance with Executive Orders referenced in the notice, including those related to public safety, youth protection, and adherence to federal funding guidelines. The designated point of contact for this opportunity is Christi Jones, who can be reached at CARA_NOFO@cdc.gov. Applicants experiencing difficulty accessing the full announcement are encouraged to contact her via the listed email. No phone number is provided in the notice.