Substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services block grant

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded the California Department of Health Care Services $716.886 million on October 1, 2025, under the Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse program (CFDA 93.959). The award, which carries an ultimate completion date of September 30, 2027, provides financial assistance to California to support projects for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation activities directed toward alcohol and drug abuse.

DHCS, the state agency administering California's Medicaid program and overseeing substance abuse and mental health services, received the award as the designated state agency. The funding flows through a block grant structure to county behavioral health departments and county health services agencies across California, which deliver substance abuse prevention, treatment, recovery services, and related mental health interventions to local populations. Sub-recipients include county behavioral health services divisions in Tuolumne, Yolo, Sonoma, Trinity, Sutter, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Shasta, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Nevada, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Marin, Plumas, Sacramento, Kern, Napa, Monterey, Inyo, Merced, and additional California counties, along with behavioral health authorities in Alameda, Placer, Ventura, Mendocino, Fresno, Tehama, Madera, Alpine, Stanislaus, Lake, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, El Dorado, San Diego, Riverside, Butte, Tulare, Mariposa, Solano, Kings, Lassen, Imperial, Mono, Humboldt, Amador, Glenn, Sierra, Del Norte, Contra Costa, Colusa, Calaveras, and Los Angeles counties. Performance occurs at DHCS's administrative office in Sacramento, California, with subordinate service delivery across California's 58 counties. The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant program provides funds to all fifty states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians as specified in the Public Health Service Act, with each state allocation available for obligation and expenditure during the fiscal year allotted through the end of the subsequent fiscal year.