Center of Excellence on Eating Disorders

The Center of Excellence on Eating Disorders is a forecasted grant opportunity under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This initiative reflects SAMHSA’s broader mandate to enhance behavioral health services and promote evidence-based approaches across the United States. The funding opportunity is tied to Assistance Listing Number 93.532, which supports mental health service projects of regional and national significance. The core aim of the program is to establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) specifically focused on eating disorders. This Center will function as a national hub for training and technical assistance, empowering healthcare providers to better identify, intervene in, and refer individuals with eating disorders to appropriate treatment services. The training will emphasize three key actions: screening for eating disorders, performing brief interventions, and executing effective referrals to specialized treatment. Through this effort, SAMHSA aims to address persistent gaps in knowledge and capacity among providers who may encounter these conditions across diverse healthcare settings. Though specific spending rules have not been delineated in the current forecast, cooperative agreements such as this often include structured collaboration between the funder and awardee, requiring the grantee to follow detailed performance benchmarks and reporting protocols. Funding is projected to total $1,873,148, but the expected number of awards is limited to one, indicating a highly competitive selection process. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement indicated, which may increase accessibility for eligible organizations. Eligibility is open to domestic public and private non-profit entities, a broad classification that allows for a variety of organizations—including universities, hospitals, and community-based health agencies—to apply, provided they meet nonprofit status criteria. The opportunity does not list pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers at this stage. Since it is currently in forecast status, the program is not yet accepting applications. The estimated posting date is May 1, 2026, with future due dates and project start dates to be determined upon final release. Submission processes will likely be handled via Grants.gov, with applicants expected to prepare a comprehensive application in accordance with SAMHSA guidelines. While the current notice does not provide evaluation criteria or detailed application questions, past SAMHSA opportunities typically emphasize the quality of project design, applicant capacity, cultural competence, and fidelity to evidence-based practices. Prospective applicants may wish to begin gathering documentation related to organizational qualifications and programmatic approaches in preparation. For inquiries related to this opportunity, interested parties may contact Nancy Kelly at 240-276-1143 or via email at [email protected]. Because the opportunity is forecasted, applicants are advised to monitor Grants.gov and the SAMHSA website for updates, including the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will contain full application instructions, allowable costs, performance measurement expectations, and detailed submission deadlines.