Advancing Behavioral Health in Corrections: Training and Policy Innovation Initiative

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), a division of the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons, seeks applicants for one cooperative agreement award of $150,000 to develop behavioral health training and policy innovation solutions for correctional facilities, with applications due July 31, 2026. The award funds a 12-month project period with anticipated award date of August 21, 2026.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, community, and tribal organizations), for-profit organizations (which must waive profit or fees), and institutions of higher education; recipients must have 501(c)(3) status or tribal authorization. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in correctional behavioral health, training and technical assistance, policy development, curriculum design, research and evaluation, or related fields, with preference for those with national, state, local, or tribal-level experience. Cost-sharing waivers are available; no cost share is required.

The project requires an in-depth gap analysis of behavioral health services within correctional settings, a rigorous review of institutional policies for alignment with national standards, and robust stakeholder engagement (10–15 members including correctional staff, community behavioral health providers, and advocacy groups) through focus groups. Primary deliverables include a comprehensive behavioral health e-course for correctional staff covering trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, cognitive-behavioral strategies, medication-assisted treatment, and co-occurring disorder management; a white paper summarizing gap analysis findings; a policy recommendations document; a stakeholder engagement toolkit; supplemental training materials; and quarterly progress reports.

The cooperative agreement requires significant NIC staff involvement in oversight, subject matter expertise, curriculum co-authoring, and approval of all training materials and subject matter experts. Pre-proposal inquiries and questions are due by July 16, 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time; NIC strongly recommends submission at least 72 hours before the due date. This opportunity is funded under CFDA 16.602 (Corrections Research and Evaluation and Policy Formulation).