Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information Related to Behavioral Health
🏛 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis (HHS-SAMHS-SAMHSA)
Can you apply?
This grant is for establishing Centers of Excellence focused on protected health information (PHI) management and best practices in behavioral health settings. Eligible applicants typically include nonprofit organizations, academic medical centers, research institutions, and public health agencies with demonstrated expertise in behavioral health, mental health services, substance use disorders, or addiction treatment. Applicants must have the capacity to develop and disseminate evidence-based practices and technical assistance related to PHI security, compliance with HIPAA regulations, and data privacy protections. The grant supports collaborative efforts to improve data systems, training programs, and organizational capacity in behavioral health organizations. Geographic scope is nationwide, and preference may be given to applicants serving underserved populations or rural communities.
Program description
The purpose of this program is to implement a National Center of Excellence to develop and disseminate training, technical assistance, and educational resources for healthcare practitioners, families, individuals, states, and communities on federal privacy statutes and regulations as they relate to behavioral health data.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (OMB Form R&R) and SF-424 (Supp) supplement forms
- Project narrative (typically 15-20 pages) describing the center's vision, goals, activities, and dissemination plan
- Detailed budget and budget justification
- Statement of organizational capacity and relevant experience
- Letters of support and commitment from partner organizations
- Curriculum vitae or biographies of key personnel
- Data management and evaluation plan
- SAMHSA-specific assurances and compliance documentation
- Organizational chart showing management and governance structure
- Evidence of institutional support (from sponsoring organization leadership)
Program contact
- 👤 Belinda Greenfield
- 📧 belinda.greenfield@samhsa.hhs.gov
- 📞 240-276-2545
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 93.490 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.490). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2026 est. | $545,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Typically, nonprofit organizations, public health agencies, academic institutions, research centers, and behavioral health providers with relevant expertise in protected health information management and behavioral health services. Some grants in this category may prioritize applicants with established networks or consortia.
What is the application deadline?
The application opens March 20, 2026. You should monitor SAMHSA's official grant portal (grants.nih.gov or samhsa.gov) for specific submission deadline information, which typically falls 60-90 days after the application opens.
What types of activities are supported?
Common activities include developing PHI security protocols, creating training curricula, establishing best practices, providing technical assistance to behavioral health organizations, conducting research on data management, and building organizational capacity for HIPAA compliance and privacy protections.
How competitive is this grant?
SAMHSA Centers of Excellence grants are highly competitive. Successful applications typically demonstrate strong organizational capacity, a detailed implementation plan, partnerships with key stakeholders, and clear evidence of how the work will benefit the behavioral health field.
What is the typical funding range?
Specific amounts vary, but SAMHSA Centers of Excellence grants typically range from $300,000 to $800,000 annually over multiple years. Consult the official funding announcement for exact figures.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's existing expertise and track record in behavioral health, data management, or health information technology. Strong Centers of Excellence applications demonstrate deep subject matter competency.
- Build a robust partnership network including behavioral health providers, technology experts, compliance specialists, and organizations representing diverse populations. Collaboration strengthens competitiveness significantly.
- Develop a detailed dissemination and implementation strategy that shows how your center's products (training, tools, best practices) will actually reach and be adopted by behavioral health organizations nationwide.
- Address equity and access from the start. Include plans to serve underserved populations, rural communities, and organizations with limited resources, as SAMHSA prioritizes health equity.
- Allocate sufficient resources to evaluation and demonstrate how you will measure your center's impact on PHI security practices, organizational capacity, and ultimately on the quality and safety of behavioral health services.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail by overstating capacity without demonstrating concrete prior experience in behavioral health information systems, PHI compliance, or center-based operations. Many applicants underestimate the importance of a strong dissemination strategy, submitting vague plans for "sharing findings" rather than detailed mechanisms for adoption. Additionally, weak partnerships—or partnerships without clear roles—signal that the center may struggle to execute; reviewers want to see committed, engaged partners with demonstrated relationships and complementary expertise.
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