SAMHSA is accepting applications for up to $13.4 million for Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion Grant Program

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for the Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion (Early Diversion Grants) grant program totaling up to $13.4 million over the next five years.

The purpose of this program is to establish or expand programs that divert adults with a serious mental illness (SMI) or a co-occurring (mental and substance use) disorder (COD) from the criminal justice system to community-based services prior to arrest and booking.  Special consideration will be given to applicants proposing to use grant funding to support early diversion services for veterans.

SAMHSA expects to fund up to eight grantees with up to $330,000 per year for up to five years.  The actual award amount may vary, depending on the availability of funds.

WHO CAN APPLY:

Eligibility is statutorily limited by Section 520G of the Public Health Service Act to states; political subdivisions of states; and Indian tribes and tribal organizations as defined in Section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act or through agreements with other public and private non-profit entities.  For example,

  • States and territories, including the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
  • Governmental units within political subdivisions of a state (e.g., counties, cities, towns, villages).
  • Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes, tribal organizations, and consortia of tribes or tribal organizations.

HOW TO APPLY: All applicants must register with the National Institutes of Health’s electronic Research Administration (eRA) Commons in order to submit an application.  This process takes up to six weeks.  If you believe you are interested in applying for this opportunity, you MUST start the registration process immediately.  Do not wait to start this process.  If your organization is not registered and you do not have an active eRA Commons PI account by the deadline, the application will not be accepted. Applicants also must register with the System for Award Management at SAM.gov and Grants.gov/.

APPLICATION DUE DATE:  March 5, 2018 by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time).  Applications must be received by the due date and time to be considered for review. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Applicants with questions about program issues should contact Roxanne Castenada at (240) 276-1917 or Roxanne.castenda@samhsa.hhs.gov.

For questions on grants management issues contact Gwendolyn Simpson at (240) 276-1408 or FOACMHS@samhsa.hhs.gov

Reporters with questions should send inquiries to media@samhsa.hhs.gov.


The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes.

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