Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program

The Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program is a federally funded initiative administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program reflects the federal government’s commitment to mitigating youth suicide through comprehensive, coordinated strategies at the state and tribal levels. It honors the legacy of Senator Garrett Lee Smith, whose advocacy focused on addressing the mental health challenges faced by young people across the United States. The program's primary goal is to support states, territories, federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in implementing effective, community-based suicide prevention and early intervention strategies. These efforts are targeted at youth up to age 24 and aim to reduce the incidence of suicide among this population through partnerships across multiple sectors, including educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, pediatric and behavioral health programs, foster care services, and other youth-serving systems. Activities may include screening for suicide risk, crisis intervention services, referral systems, peer support programs, and culturally relevant approaches tailored to tribal communities. Funding under this program will be delivered in the form of grants. While the total anticipated funding amount is approximately $15.1 million and 21 awards are expected, specific figures for individual award ceilings or floors have not been released. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, which broadens accessibility for eligible applicants and simplifies the budgeting process for recipients. All funded programs are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes and align with evidence-based practices. Eligible applicants are statutorily limited to U.S. states and territories, or public or private non-profit organizations officially designated by a state or tribe to lead youth suicide prevention strategies. Additionally, federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations involved in tribal youth suicide prevention are also eligible. The program requires that applicants be actively engaged in developing and sustaining comprehensive youth-focused strategies that align with SAMHSA’s mission. As of December 10, 2025, this is a forecasted opportunity, with an estimated official posting date of March 16, 2026. The application due date, project start date, and award date have not yet been finalized. Contact for the program is Johari Dyson, available via email at [email protected] or by phone at (240) 276-1096. Interested applicants are advised to begin internal preparations in anticipation of the opening, particularly as it relates to partnership coordination, program design, and evidence-based approach alignment. Based on the prior timeline and phrasing, this program is expected to recur annually. Future applicants should plan to revisit the grants.gov portal in early 2026 to confirm specific deadlines and access the finalized notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).