Grants to Expand Substance Use Disorder Treatment Capacity in Adult and Family Treatment Drug Courts

The "Grants to Expand Substance Use Disorder Treatment Capacity in Adult and Family Treatment Drug Courts" program, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a forecasted federal funding opportunity aimed at addressing substance use disorders (SUD) through targeted support for adult and family treatment drug courts. SAMHSA, a key agency within the U.S. health infrastructure, is dedicated to improving the quality and availability of treatment and rehabilitative services for individuals and communities affected by SUD and mental illness. This initiative reflects SAMHSA’s continued commitment to supporting evidence-based approaches that intersect public health and criminal justice systems. The central purpose of the grant is to increase SUD treatment capacity and provide recovery support services within the framework of existing treatment drug courts. The program mandates the use of a coordinated, multisystem strategy that blends judicial authority with medically informed SUD interventions. The expectation is that grantees will integrate court systems with a network of professionals and services, including prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, law enforcement, mental health practitioners, social services, and SUD treatment providers. This comprehensive approach aims to break the cycle of substance use, legal entanglements, and incarceration by promoting rehabilitation over punishment. Funding is projected to be disbursed across 19 awards, with a total estimated program funding of $7.6 million for the fiscal year 2026. Although specific award ceilings and floors have not been disclosed in the forecast, applicants can expect the funding structure to support implementation costs associated with service delivery, program coordination, and evidence-based treatment modalities. No cost-sharing or matching requirement is associated with this grant, making it more accessible to eligible entities. Eligibility is limited to domestic public and private nonprofit entities. This broad classification includes a variety of government units and nonprofit organizations, provided they meet the specified requirements and demonstrate the capacity to deliver SUD treatment within the justice system context. Applicants will be expected to articulate how their programs will utilize a collaborative model and adhere to SAMHSA’s evidence-based treatment standards. The selection process will likely consider organizational capacity, proposed treatment models, and strategies for stakeholder coordination. As this is a forecasted opportunity, key application dates are not yet finalized. The estimated post date is May 15, 2026. Given this timeline and the nature of federal grant cycles, the application due date and project start date are anticipated to be announced shortly thereafter. Interested applicants should monitor the Grants.gov listing and SAMHSA’s official communications for updates. At present, there are no required pre-application steps such as letters of intent or concept papers identified. Prospective applicants seeking more information are encouraged to contact Amy Romero at 240-276-0736 or via email at [email protected]. Since this is an early-stage forecast, applicants are advised to begin assembling multidisciplinary stakeholder teams and preparing internal documentation in alignment with the expected program goals. This proactive preparation can help ensure readiness when the application window opens.