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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), under the authority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program builds upon the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, originally established by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997, to further support coalition activities aimed at reducing and preventing youth substance misuse. The CARA initiative was enacted under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, Pub. L. 114-198, which directs resources to community coalitions working to address opioid, methamphetamine, and prescription drug misuse among youth. The purpose of the CARA grants is to enhance the capacity of community-based coalitions in preventing and reducing substance misuse among youth ages 12 to 18. These funds are specifically intended to target communities experiencing misuse rates of opioids or methamphetamines that exceed the national average over a sustained period. Eligible applicants are required to demonstrate that they are either current or former recipients of the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program. The program prioritizes prevention strategies that are community-driven, evidence-based, and sustainable, with the goal of strengthening local infrastructure to combat youth drug misuse. The scope of funding allows for a wide range of coalition-led activities, such as community education, prevention campaigns, support programs for at-risk youth, and coordination with schools, local government, healthcare providers, and law enforcement. Funding cannot be used for organizations or activities outside the United States. Awardees must ensure all funded activities align with the statutory authority under Section 103 of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which restricts eligibility to domestic nonprofit entities. The statutory framework emphasizes coalitions that are part of, or affiliated with, legally recognized domestic public or private nonprofit organizations, including governments, universities, professional associations, and community-based groups. Eligibility for this program is limited to nonprofit organizations as defined under IRS 501(c), as well as state and local governments, federally recognized and state-recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, public or private universities, schools, professional associations, voluntary organizations, consumer and provider service groups, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations. Importantly, applicants must demonstrate existing coalition structures and prior engagement with DFC programming. The program explicitly requires that applicants be located within the United States or U.S. territories. For this forecasted opportunity, the CDC estimates that approximately 45 awards will be made, with a total program funding amount of $16,875,000 for Fiscal Year 2026. The maximum award (award ceiling) is $75,000 per recipient, though the award floor has not been defined, indicating that lower amounts are possible depending on proposed activities. Matching funds are not required for this opportunity. The anticipated timeline indicates an estimated posting date of November 18, 2025, with applications due by January 21, 2026, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The estimated award date is June 1, 2026, and the project start date is anticipated for July 1, 2026. The opportunity is currently in forecast status, meaning the program has been announced but is not yet accepting applications. Interested applicants should monitor for the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) publication expected in November 2025. The archive date for this announcement is February 20, 2026, after which applications will no longer be accepted. Since the CARA program is a recurring initiative connected to the DFC Support Program, future cycles are anticipated annually. The designated point of contact for this funding opportunity is Christi Jones, who may be reached at the provided program email address CARA_NOFO@cdc.gov or by phone at 000-000-0000. Applicants are encouraged to direct questions to this contact during the forecast period to prepare for application submission once the official funding notice is released.