Accelerating Solutions to Improve Access and Quality of Empirically-Supported Practices for Youth Mental Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research organizations and institutions seeking to improve access to mental health services for youth. Eligible applicants include universities, medical schools, research hospitals, and nonprofit research institutions with research capacity. Projects must conduct empirical research on scaling evidence-based mental health practices. Geographic scope is nationwide. Funded activities include research design, implementation studies, and evaluation of mental health interventions targeting youth populations.
Clinical trials are optional but encouraged. Organizations must demonstrate research infrastructure and qualified personnel. Both domestic and international collaborators may participate. Applicants must have 501(c)(3) status or be government entities with research components.
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Program description
This NOFO is a call to action in response to the mental health crisis in the United States. We seek applications that will study methods to increase access to evidence-based interventions and services for youth mental health, including those living in rural areas, inner cities, and other under-resourced areas, and youth experiencing housing and food insecurities and out-right homelessness. Applications should address research related to optimizing assessment, intervention and service strategies, overcoming challenges related to the workforce shortage, wait lists for treatment, integration of treatment and preventive interventions into settings where people are most likely to be best identified as needing care (eg: schools, social service, pediatric medicine and justice), and service interventions that address systemic barriers to access and quality of mental health care (structural, policy, organizational, value (cost/financing), management).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Community Health Center
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (Research Plan)
- Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (all key personnel)
- Letters of Support from partner organizations
- Institutional certifications and assurances
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Authentication and Authorization documentation
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.242 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$78,262,050
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$75,056,208
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$74,756,329
-
$64,705,159
-
$63,991,707
-
$54,214,022
-
$48,653,752
-
$38,895,082
-
$38,475,557
-
$35,940,675
Top States by Funding
- CA 15 awards $408.1M
- MA 9 awards $230.5M
- NY 6 awards $184.2M
- CT 4 awards $183.5M
- WA 4 awards $174.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.242). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,722,300,004 | |
| 2025 | $1,726,864,191 | |
| 2026 est. | $99,221,272 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Research universities, medical centers, nonprofit research institutions, and public agencies with research capacity. Domestic and international partners can collaborate on U.S.-based research.
What activities are supported?
Research on scaling evidence-based mental health practices for youth. Implementation science, pilot testing, and clinical trials are all supported activities.
How competitive is this grant?
R01 grants are highly competitive. Strong preliminary data, experienced team, and clear innovation are essential. Success rates typically range 15-25%.
What is the typical funding range?
NIH R01 grants typically provide $150,000-$500,000 per year for 3-5 years, depending on project scope and institutional base salary costs.
When is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is January 7, 2027. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM ET on that date through grants.nih.gov.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build a strong team with expertise in mental health services, implementation science, and youth-focused research. Include clinical and research partners.
- Include clear, measurable outcomes tied to access, quality, and youth mental health impact. Use validated assessment tools.
- Develop realistic timelines and budgets. Overestimating scope or underestimating costs leads to rejection.
- Demonstrate genuine partnerships with practice settings where you'll test interventions. Letters of support are critical.
- Start early with your research institution's grants office. NIH submissions require institutional signatures and compliance certifications.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak preliminary data or unclear innovation in mental health intervention approach. Applications lack specific, measurable outcomes tied to access and quality improvements. Budgets are misaligned with scope, and key personnel lack research track records.
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