Federal Grants
This page explains the federal funding sources DMH/DD/SUS uses to create grant opportunities and support programs that address mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Learn how federal grants from agencies such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) help us fund services and initiatives across North Carolina.
Federal grants are divided into the following:
- Block Grants
- Discretionary Grants
- Formula Grants
Block Grants
Block grants provide ongoing funding from the federal government to support a wide range of services across North Carolina. These flexible funds help ensure access to prevention, treatment, and recovery supports for mental health and substance use.
Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRS)
Funds prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery supports for people at risk for or with a substance use disorder.
Helping to plan, implement, and evaluate activities that prevent and treat substance use.
Federal: Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Women; pregnant women; veterans; children and adolescents; transition-age youth; young adults; and adults.
Primarily ages 13+
Grant is awarded in 2-year cycles; each award overlaps the previous award by 1 year. Grant runs from October 1 through September 30 for each grant period.
80% of the grant award is directed towards treatment and workforce development
20% is required for prevention activities and services.
SUPTRS encompasses all DMH/DD/SUS priorities, however the following two are particularly significant:
Strategic Plan Goal 3.1: Increase Primary Prevention Engagement
Delay initial substance exposure or use and deter access to substances that can be misused by children and adolescents and use harm reduction strategies to prevent escalation and misuse in young adults.
Strategic Plan Goal 3.2: Increase Access to Evidence Based SUD Treatment
Increase timely access to SUD services, especially for geographies and populations with low penetration rates.
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (CMHBG)
Addresses the complex needs of children, youth, adults, families, and communities impacted by mental health issues.
Supports states in carrying out plans for providing comprehensive community mental health services. States can be flexible in the use of funds for both new and unique programs or to supplement their current activities.
Federal: Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) ages 18 and older who have a diagnosable mental, or emotional condition and their condition substantially interferes with, or limits, one or more major life activities.
Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (SED), ages 3 to 18, who have a diagnosable mental or emotional issue.
3 – 18 years
Grant is awarded in 2-year cycles; each award overlaps the previous award by 1 year. Grant runs from October 1 through September 30 for each grant period.
10% of each grant award addresses early serious mental illness/first episode psychosis.
5% of each grant award is required to be directed towards crisis services and supports.
CMHBG encompasses all DMH/DD/SUS’s priorities, however the following three are particularly targeted:
- Increasing Access to Care Across the State
- Strengthen the Crisis System
- Amplify Recovery and Community-Based Services
Federal Discretionary Grants
Federal discretionary grants are competitive, time-limited awards that support specific projects or priorities. Unlike block grants, which offer broad funding for ongoing services, these grants focus on targeted innovations, pilot programs, and emerging needs.
| Description | Aims to help reduce unmet treatment needs and opioid-related overdose deaths by:
|
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) |
| Population Served | Women; pregnant women; veterans; children and adolescents; transition-age youth and young adults; adults; individuals with an opioid use disorder. |
| Age Ranges | Primarily 13+ |
| Grant Length | Current SOR grant is 3 years in length |
| Current Priority Areas | Strategic Plan Goal 3.1: Increase Primary Prevention Engagement: Delay initial substance exposure or use and deter access to substances that can be misused by children and adolescents and use harm reduction strategies to prevent escalation and misuse in young adults.
Strategic Plan Goal 3.2: Increase Access to Evidence-Based SUD Treatment: Increase timely access to SUD services, especially for geographies and populations with low penetration rates. |
| Description | Expanding efforts among Lifeline crisis centers to support individuals to provide continued support and linkages to decrease suicide risk by:
|
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) |
| Population Served | Open to every North Carolinian regardless of insurance status |
| Age Ranges | All age ranges |
| Grant Length | Current grant: 09/30/2023 – 09/29/2026 |
| Description | Aims to provide services and supports for those providing crisis services to individuals:
|
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) |
| Population Served | Providers of non-clinical services |
| Age Ranges | N/A |
| Grant Length | 8 months |
| Description | Grant is for the individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. The grant aims to assist individuals and communities in recovering from the effects of natural and human-caused disasters through the provision of community-based outreach and psychoeducational services. This grant supports short-term interventions that involve assisting disaster survivors in understanding their current situation and reactions, mitigating stress, developing coping strategies, accessing sources of emotional support, and encouraging linkages with other individuals and agencies that help survivors in their recovery process. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | SAMHSA/FEMA |
| Population Served | All North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene within the Emergency Declaration identified counties. |
| Age Ranges | All ages |
| Grant Length | January 27, 2025 – October 26, 2025 |
| Description | To reduce opioid overdose deaths of those involved in the justice system by 20% through a comprehensive, multi-sector strategy focused on improving the use of prescribed controlled substances. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: Bureau of Justice Administration |
| Population Served | The entire state |
| Age Ranges | All ages |
| Grant Length | 2 years (ends December 31, 2025) |
| Description | To reduce opioid overdose deaths among North Carolinians involved in the local justice system through the implementation of pre-arrest diversion programs, jail-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and jail-based overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution upon release. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: Bureau of Justice Administration |
| Population Served | Those in jail/prison and those re-entering the community from jail/prison |
| Age Ranges | Adolescents and adults |
| Grant Length | 3 years (ends September 30, 2025) |
| Description | Reducing the number of prescription drug/opioid overdose-related deaths and adverse events among individuals 18 and older by training first responders and other key community sectors on the prevention of prescription drug/opioid overdose-related deaths and implementing secondary prevention strategies, including the purchase and distribution of naloxone to first responders. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: SAMHSA |
| Population Served | First Responders and Key Community Sectors |
| Age Ranges | N/A |
| Grant Length | 5 years: 08/31/2021 – 08/30/2026 |
| Description | Grant targets the priority issue of prescription drug misuse. Aims to raise awareness about the dangers of sharing medications and work with pharmaceutical and medical communities on the risks of overprescribing to young adults. Further aims to raise community awareness and bring prescription drug abuse prevention activities and education to schools, communities, parents, prescribers, and their patients. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: SAMHSA |
| Population Served | Medical and pharmaceutical communities, school, parents, prescribers |
| Age Ranges | N/A |
| Grant Length | 5 years: 9/30/2021 – 9/29/2026 |
| Description | Aimed at preventing substance use initiation and reducing the progression of substance use and related problems. Grant supports the development and implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies and strengthens prevention capacity and infrastructure at the community and state levels. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: SAMHSA |
| Population Served | Prevention providers and communities |
| Age Ranges | N/A |
| Grant Length | 5 years: 9/30/2023 – 9/29/2028 |
| Description | To improve and expand access to developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate services and supports for transition-aged youth and young adults who either have, or are at risk for developing, serious mental health conditions. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: SAMHSA |
| Population Served | Transition-aged youth and young adults |
| Age Ranges | 16 – 25 |
| Grant Length | 5 years: 09/30/2024 – 09/29/2029 |
| Description | To establish Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) pilot projects that offer the complex services and supports needed to support those with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) enter, maintain, and enjoy CIE. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: U.S. Department of Education |
| Population Served | Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities seeking competitive, integrated employment |
| Age Ranges | Adults |
| Grant Length | 5 years: 10/1/2022 – 9/30/2027 |
| Description | Seeks to create and strengthen state and local systems of services and supports for individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and their families, improve access to coordinated services, and promote the sustainability of TBI projects through policy changes. It also encourages systems change activities to evaluate and improve current structures and policies. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | Federal: Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services |
| Population Served | Those with TBI and their families |
| Age Ranges | All ages |
| Grant Length | 5 years: 08/01/2021 – 07/31/2026 |
| Description | Funding provide short-term and longer term services and supports to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. This funding provides disaster supplies, the ability for providers to develop and rebuild services and supports, and training and supports for first responders. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | State: State Government |
| Population Served | All impacted by Hurricane Helene in the impacted counties as noted in the Emergency Declaration. |
| Age Ranges | All ages |
| Grant Length | No end date |
Formula Grants
Formula grants provide ongoing funding to states based on a set formula, such as population or need. These funds support specific programs and services as outlined by the grant’s requirements.
| Description: | Formula grant that is a response to homelessness and includes services such as outreach; screening and diagnostic assessment; habilitation and rehabilitation; substance use disorder treatment; and referrals for primary health care, job training, educational services and housing. |
|---|---|
| Funding Source: | Federal: SAMHSA |
| Population Served: | Homeless individuals |
| Age Ranges: | Adults |
| Grant Length: | PATH grant is issued annually. Grant length is for two year project periods. |