National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative - Community Treatment and Service Centers (CTS)

The National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative - Community Treatment and Service Centers (CTS) is a program under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which operates within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA is a key federal agency focused on improving the behavioral health of the American people, and this particular initiative reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to addressing trauma among children and youth. The CTS program is a component of the broader National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI), which seeks to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events. The purpose of the CTS program is to fund Community Treatment and Service Centers that deliver effective trauma-informed treatments and services to children, youth, and their families who have been impacted by trauma. These community-based centers will serve as direct service providers and will play a critical role in the overall NCTSI network, ensuring that evidence-based interventions are accessible to vulnerable populations. The program focuses on enhancing service systems and practices that recognize and respond to the impact of traumatic stress on children and youth, especially those at high risk or from underserved communities. This opportunity will support approximately 67 awards with a total estimated program funding of $40,476,000. However, specific award ceilings and floors have not yet been published. The grant opportunity does not require cost-sharing or matching contributions, simplifying the participation for eligible nonprofit organizations. Funding is discretionary and will be issued in the form of grants. The assistance listing associated with this opportunity is 93.532, which pertains to the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance. Eligible applicants for this opportunity include domestic public and private nonprofit entities. While no detailed eligibility breakdown is provided in the forecast, this typically includes organizations such as nonprofit health providers, mental health clinics, and community-based organizations. The focus is on broad accessibility, and the eligibility criteria appear designed to maximize the reach and impact of trauma-informed care at the community level. Specific application components, review criteria, or submission portal requirements have not yet been released as this is a forecasted notice. The forecasted posting date for the full application opportunity is April 1, 2026. At this stage, key timeline fields such as application due dates, estimated award notifications, and project start dates remain unspecified. However, this grant is expected to recur annually. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov and SAMHSA’s announcements for updates, including the eventual Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that will provide detailed submission instructions and application requirements. Program contacts for this opportunity include Elisabeth McCall Martin, who can be reached at (240) 276-2252 or via email at [email protected]. Since this is a forecasted notice, potential applicants are advised to engage early, review past cycles of the CTS program if available, and prepare to respond quickly when the NOFO is released.