Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information Related to Behavioral Health

The Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information Related to Behavioral Health is a forecasted federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The program is part of the agency’s mission to advance behavioral health and reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. SAMHSA has a history of supporting public health infrastructure through education, training, and the dissemination of resources to improve the delivery of behavioral health services. This initiative aims to establish a national Center of Excellence to assist stakeholders in understanding and applying federal privacy regulations relevant to behavioral health information. The Center will serve as a centralized resource for healthcare practitioners, individuals, families, states, and communities, providing training, technical assistance, and educational tools to enhance compliance with privacy rules surrounding sensitive behavioral health data. These efforts are aligned with federal priorities to protect individual rights and ensure that behavioral health services are delivered in a legally compliant and respectful manner. While specific spending rules are not detailed in the forecast, the use of funds is expected to support the development and dissemination of resources related to privacy statutes. This may include the creation of training modules, workshops, and technical assistance programs. The forecast indicates no matching or cost-sharing requirement, which reduces the financial burden on applicants and allows for broader participation from eligible entities. Eligibility is limited to domestic public and private non-profit entities. This includes organizations such as non-profit healthcare institutions, academic institutions, and community-based non-profits that work within the behavioral health sector. The language excludes for-profit organizations, individuals, and foreign entities, ensuring that grant support is directed to mission-aligned organizations within the U.S. health and human services landscape. The opportunity is currently in forecast status, with an estimated post date of May 15, 2026. Application deadlines, award dates, and project start dates are not yet specified. Given its forecast status and the absence of past cycles or explicit language regarding recurrence, it is not yet possible to determine whether this is a one-time or recurring opportunity. Interested applicants should monitor the official SAMHSA and Grants.gov pages for updates once the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is posted. Inquiries about the opportunity should be directed to Belinda Greenfield at [email protected] or via phone at 240-276-2545. No official PDF link has been provided as of the forecast publication, and applicants should check for the NOFO release in mid-May 2026. The forecast status gives potential applicants time to prepare organizationally and plan ahead for when the official application window opens.