Community Programs for Youth and Young Adults at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has forecasted a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Community Programs for Youth and Young Adults at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis." This initiative aligns with SAMHSA’s ongoing efforts to promote mental health and reduce the incidence of serious mental illness through early intervention and evidence-based support structures. As part of the federal government’s broader public health agenda, SAMHSA aims to expand access to community-centered mental health services for vulnerable youth populations. The program seeks to fund trauma-informed, evidence-based interventions for youth and young adults up to age 25 who are at clinical high risk for psychosis. The overarching objective is to mitigate the progression of psychosis through timely and targeted community-based support, thereby improving long-term mental health outcomes and reducing societal costs related to untreated serious mental illness. Funding under this opportunity will support programmatic activities such as outreach, screening, diagnosis, early intervention, treatment, and supportive services. Emphasis will be placed on culturally responsive care and services that align with the unique developmental and social needs of the target population. The estimated total program funding is $7,000,000, with approximately 11 awards expected. While the forecast does not specify award floor or ceiling amounts, cost sharing or matching is required, although the precise percentage or ratio is not disclosed. This suggests applicants should anticipate demonstrating their capacity to contribute non-federal resources to the project budget. Eligible applicants are statutorily limited to public entities, including state governments, U.S. territories, governmental units within political subdivisions (such as counties and cities), and federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribes and tribal organizations. The application process is expected to begin on or around March 31, 2026. As a forecasted opportunity, no concrete application due date or award start date has yet been established. Prospective applicants should monitor Grants.gov and SAMHSA’s communications for the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) release and full application guidelines. At that time, the application package will include detailed submission instructions, required forms, and evaluation criteria. No preliminary concept paper or letter of intent has been specified for this opportunity. The main contact for this opportunity is Emily Lichvar, who can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at (240) 276-1859. Interested applicants should begin preparing internal resources and partnership planning in anticipation of the March 2026 release. As the grant is expected to recur annually or on a similar cadence, applicants who are not prepared for the upcoming cycle may consider planning for future rounds.