988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Crisis Center Follow-Up Programs
🏛 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis (HHS-SAMHS-SAMHSA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations seeking to operate and enhance 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline crisis centers with a focus on follow-up programs and services. Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, community mental health centers, crisis services organizations, and state/local government agencies with demonstrated capacity to provide crisis intervention, counseling, and follow-up care. Programs must serve callers and text users who contact the 988 Lifeline and require support in the follow-up period after initial crisis contact. The geographic scope is national, and funded activities support developing or expanding evidence-based follow-up protocols, care coordination, peer support services, and outreach to high-risk populations. Applicants must demonstrate financial stability, qualified staff, and compliance with SAMHSA standards for crisis services.
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Program description
The purpose of the Crisis Center Follow-Up Improvement program is to expand efforts among Lifeline crisis centers to support individuals post-contact to provide continued support and linkages to decrease suicide, deaths by overdose and future crisis events.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Statement of Need (describing crisis follow-up services and target population)
- Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational Capacity narrative (staffing, qualifications, experience with crisis services)
- Letters of Support/Commitment from 988 Lifeline partners and community organizations
- Evaluation Plan (outcome metrics, data collection methods)
- Organizational documentation (IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, audit reports, board resolution)
- Quality Assurance and Training plan
- Organizational chart and job descriptions for key staff
Program contact
- 👤 James Wright
- 📧 james.wright@samhsa.hhs.gov
- 📞 (240) 276-1615
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.00R from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$254,582,876
-
$33,037,776
-
$24,434,512
-
$23,189,171
-
$16,214,442
-
$15,307,183
-
$15,255,277
-
$14,485,425
-
$13,963,391
-
$13,856,445
Top States by Funding
- NY 1 awards $254.6M
- TX 2 awards $36.2M
- OK 7 awards $27.3M
- FL 1 awards $24.4M
- IL 1 awards $23.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.00R). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $466,000,000 | |
| 2025 | $479,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $479,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community mental health centers, crisis centers, hospitals, and state/local government agencies currently operating or partnering with 988 Lifeline services with capacity to provide crisis follow-up programs.
What is the deadline for applications?
The deadline date has not been publicly specified yet. Applications are expected to open on December 29, 2025. Monitor SAMHSA's website or Grants.gov for the specific submission deadline.
What activities does this grant support?
Funded activities include developing and implementing crisis follow-up programs, care coordination services, peer support initiatives, training for crisis workers, and outreach to underserved populations who contact the 988 Lifeline.
How competitive is this funding?
This is moderately to highly competitive funding. SAMHSA prioritizes applicants with existing infrastructure, strong partnerships with the 988 network, evidence-based program models, and demonstrated outcomes in crisis intervention and follow-up care.
What is the typical funding range?
Specific award amounts vary by applicant type and project scope. Cooperative agreements from SAMHSA typically range from $100,000 to $500,000+ annually, though exact amounts should be confirmed in the full RFP when released.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish clear partnerships with existing 988 Lifeline call centers or crisis services in your region to strengthen your application and ensure coordination of follow-up efforts.
- Develop a detailed implementation timeline that shows how your organization will operationalize follow-up services within 30-72 hours of initial crisis contact, as rapid follow-up is a key priority.
- Use outcome-focused metrics and evaluation plans that track caller engagement, mental health improvements, and reduced repeat crisis contacts to demonstrate program effectiveness.
- Identify and include strategies for serving high-risk and underserved populations, such as veterans, BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and rural residents, as SAMHSA increasingly prioritizes equity.
- Budget generously for staff training, quality assurance, and data management systems that enable real-time tracking of crisis follow-ups and integration with the broader 988 ecosystem.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail due to weak demonstrated capacity to implement crisis follow-up services or lack of established partnerships with local 988 centers, making coordination unclear. Applicants frequently underestimate the infrastructure and training costs needed for sustainable crisis operations and inadequate data systems to track follow-up contacts and outcomes. Another common pitfall is failing to clearly articulate how the proposed program will serve the 988 Lifeline's mission specifically, rather than proposing generic crisis services disconnected from the national 988 network.
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