BJA FY 2026 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- O-BJA-2026-172676
- Agency
-
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $3,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Law, Justice and Legal Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- City/Township Governments
- County Governments
- Special District Governments
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Other
- State Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Points of contact
-
- OJP Response Center ojp.responsecenter@usdoj.gov (800) 851-3420
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Bureau of Justice Assistance is soliciting applications for the FY 2026 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative, a $38 million grant program offering approximately 13 awards of up to $3 million each with an SF-424 due date of September 25, 2026. Escalating cost sharing is mandatory: 20 percent in Years 1 and 2 combined and 40 percent in Year 3.
Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; special district governments; federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofit or for-profit mental health agencies designated by state mental health authorities to provide services as a unit of state or local government (with required documentation). Applicants must demonstrate partnership with at least one justice agency and one mental health agency through signed memoranda of understanding.
The 36-month project period begins October 1, 2026. The program funds three core areas: Crisis Stabilization Centers offering 24/7 crisis receiving and drop-off services with civil commitment evaluation capabilities; Treatment Services including mental health and substance use treatment, medications, therapy, overdose prevention, and reentry services prioritizing homelessness reduction; and Electronic Health Record Systems and Technology Modernization to improve data collection, coordination, and continuity of care across correctional and crisis settings.
Applications require two-tier submission: SF-424 in Grants.gov by September 25, 2026 (11:59 PM ET) and full application in JustGrants by October 2, 2026 (8:59 PM ET). The proposal narrative is limited to 10 pages and evaluated on five criteria weighted as follows: Description of the Need (5%), Project Goals and Objectives (15%), Project Design and Implementation (35%), Capabilities and Competencies (25%), and Plan for Sustainability (5%).
The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing 16.838 (Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program) and 16.745 (Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program). The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172676.
Synopsis
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY2026 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative (PSMHI). This opportunity supports comprehensive service networks addressing untreated mental illness and substance use to reduce the burden of on law enforcement and the justice system; restore order in communities affected by homelessness, mental illness, and substance use; decrease recidivism; reduce crime; and improve overall public safety and restore confidence in public spaces. This initiative supports coordinated, direct intervention efforts across public safety, justice, mental health, and substance use agencies to increase access to mental health and substance use treatment through civil commitment, institutional treatment, and step-down approaches from pre-arrest through reentry, using accountability measures that ensure compliance with treatment plans. This program moves beyond temporary interventions by supporting appropriate institutional care and civil commitment processes, when appropriate, for individuals unable to care for themselves.
Eligibility
Other units of local government; Nonprofit or for-profit mental health agencies or other non-governmental applicants are eligible to apply only if they meet two requirements: (1) The applicant is designated by the state mental health authority to provide services as a unit of the state or local government. (2) The applicant should attach documentation to support this designation
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00293961.pdf |
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