Project Grant H79SM091538

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services awarded the Utah Department of Health and Human Services $650,000 on September 30, 2026, to implement the Youth Experiencing Homelessness Early Diversion Initiative (YEHDI), a project grant (CFDA 93.532) designed to divert homeless youth and young adults from justice system involvement into community-based programs.

The program will provide evidence-based interventions to youth and young adults ages 15 to 22 in Salt Lake County experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness, preventing arrest and booking by directing individuals into community-based resources addressing mental illness or co-occurring disorders. An Early Diversion Coalition will develop and implement cross-system strategies to facilitate diversion. Direct services include case management, outreach, crisis assessment and intervention, brief interventions, and individual therapy. Referral pathways will connect participants to assertive community treatment, medication management, integrated mental health and co-occurring disorder treatment, peer recovery support services, psychiatric rehabilitation, supported employment services, and assistance with activities of daily living. The program intends to serve 175 individuals per year, reaching 875 total over the five-year period of performance. Performance will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the period of performance extending from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031. The CMHS Projects of Regional and National Significance program supports prevention, treatment, and recovery through knowledge development, training and technical assistance, capacity response, and systems change initiatives.