Project Grant H79SM091477

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the San Antonio Council On Alcohol And Drug Awareness $750,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to implement Project DAWN across Bexar County, Texas.

Project DAWN is a five-year behavioral health and community safety initiative designed to strengthen community capacity to identify, engage, and support youth, adults, and families experiencing or at risk for behavioral health challenges related to crime, violence, substance use, trauma, and community disorder. The project will deliver behavioral health screening, assessment, resource navigation, care coordination, warm handoffs, and referrals to treatment and recovery services. Additional services include prevention education, mentoring, family engagement, behavioral health awareness campaigns, resilience-building activities, and recovery support. Behavioral health navigators will facilitate timely connections to evidence-based behavioral health, substance use treatment, recovery, and supportive services while improving service coordination.

The project targets youth exposed to violence, individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders, justice-involved individuals, veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and families facing multiple behavioral health and social challenges in Bexar County, home to more than 2.1 million residents. The population faces significant behavioral health disparities including increasing rates of mental health conditions, substance use, suicide, overdose deaths, and violent crime, compounded by provider shortages, fragmented referral systems, transportation barriers, and workforce limitations.

Performance period extends through September 29, 2031. SACADA is partnering with the Circles of San Antonio Community Coalition to implement the initiative.