Project Grant H79SM091088

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services) awarded Community Crisis Services And Food Bank $1,904,175 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532).

Community Crisis Services And Food Bank will establish and operate a national, 24/7/365 Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) providing immediate emotional support and resource connection for individuals impacted by natural disasters, public health emergencies, and mass violence events across the United States and U.S. territories. The organization will train approximately 26 full-time equivalent staff at launch, including counselors, supervisors, and oversight personnel, through an initial two-week interactive training focused on crisis counseling skills, psychological first aid, just-in-time training, and SAMHSA-required training. Staff will participate in ongoing continuing education throughout the performance period, including in-service presentations and disaster-specific resource alerts. The recipient will establish full DDH operations within two months of award and prioritize uninterrupted national access to disaster-specific crisis counseling, reduction of disaster-related emotional distress, improved access to disaster resources, and increased engagement with disaster-affected communities and referral partners. Community Crisis Services And Food Bank previously served as a national DDH provider during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Performance period runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031, with place of performance in Iowa City, Iowa.