BJA FY25 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative Training and Technical Assistance

The Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative Training and Technical Assistance grant, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, supports a singular recipient in providing specialized training and technical assistance (TTA) to grantees under the FY25 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative (PSMHI). The initiative is part of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to address the overlap of untreated mental illness and substance use with public safety concerns through the development of integrated systems connecting law enforcement, justice, behavioral health, and housing agencies. The purpose of this grant is to fund a TTA provider who can guide and support PSMHI grantees in implementing comprehensive service models across four priority domains: crisis stabilization, treatment services, transitional housing, and the modernization of electronic health records (EHR) systems. Crisis stabilization includes the development of 24/7 centers with law enforcement access and no-refusal policies. Treatment services span mental health and substance use interventions, including medication-assisted treatment and civil commitment pathways. Transitional housing programs must ensure compliance with treatment as a condition for residency, and EHR modernization focuses on integration and continuity of care, particularly within and across correctional and behavioral health settings. The grant supports one award of up to $3,200,000 for a period of 24 months beginning June 1, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to propose reasonable budgets under the maximum limit and within their operational capacity. Cost sharing or matching is not required under this opportunity. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit entities, small businesses, and Native American Tribal Organizations. Applications may include subrecipients, but only one organization may serve as the lead applicant. To apply, entities must complete a two-step submission process. Step 1 requires submission of the SF-424 form via Grants.gov by April 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Step 2 requires submission of the full application in JustGrants by April 27, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET. Applicants must register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and ensure that their registration is active throughout the submission process. Required application components include a proposal narrative, budget detail form, and various standard disclosures and assurances. The proposal narrative must address the identified need, project design, organizational capacity, and data collection plan for performance measurement. Applications will be reviewed first for eligibility and responsiveness, and then evaluated by peer reviewers on five criteria: problem statement, project design, organizational capacity, performance data collection plan, and budget. Successful applicants must submit monthly TTA activity reports, a resource guide for grantees, and a shared tracking tool for monitoring outcomes related to treatment, housing, and public safety. They must also collect and report performance data using the BJA’s performance metrics framework. This grant opportunity is non-recurring, but awards may be supplemented depending on available funding. All activities must comply with federal laws and civil rights requirements. Pre-application webinars will be announced on BJA’s website. For assistance, applicants may contact the OJP Response Center or the support teams for SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants. The technical assistance funded by this program is intended to support interventions ranging from pre-arrest to post-release, aiming to reduce homelessness, improve treatment continuity, and enhance public order.

Clearly describe treatment coordination models, emphasize organizational experience with EHR and justice systems, and align deliverables with required metrics.