Cooperative Agreements for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grants
🏛 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis (HHS-SAMHS-SAMHSA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations seeking to plan and establish Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) that provide integrated mental health and substance use disorder services. Eligible applicants typically include community health centers, community mental health centers, substance abuse treatment facilities, and other qualified behavioral health organizations with 501(c)(3) status or governmental entities. The grant supports the planning phase of CCBHC development, including needs assessments, governance structure development, and preparation for the certification process. Activities funded include strategic planning, workforce development planning, infrastructure assessment, and compliance preparation. Geographic scope is national, with priority consideration often given to underserved and rural communities with behavioral health shortages.
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Program description
The purpose of the CCBHC State Planning Grant program is to support states in:
- Developing and implementing certification systems for CCBHCs.
- Establishing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) for Medicaid reimbursable behavioral health services.
- Preparing an application to participate in a four-year Section 223 CCBHC Demonstration program. The purpose of this program is to support states in developing and implementing certification systems for CCBHCs, establish Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) for Medicaid reimbursable services, and prepare an application to participate in a four-year CCBHC Demonstration program.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative and goals aligned with CCBHC certification requirements
- Organizational capacity statement and board resolution
- Letters of support from community partners and stakeholders
- Needs assessment data for behavioral health in target service area
- Detailed budget with budget narrative
- Evaluation plan and performance metrics
- Timeline for planning milestones and CCBHC readiness
- Evidence of organizational experience in behavioral health services
- Staffing plan including key planning personnel
Program contact
- 👤 Kenny Fassel
- 📧 ccbhc@samhsa.hhs.gov
- 📞 240-276-2134
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.829 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$15,300,000
-
$7,009,548
-
$5,115,362
-
$4,241,996
-
$4,237,542
-
$4,122,378
-
$4,000,000
-
$4,000,000
-
$4,000,000
-
$4,000,000
Top States by Funding
- NY 20 awards $80.1M
- CA 9 awards $36.0M
- MI 9 awards $36.0M
- CT 6 awards $24.2M
- NJ 6 awards $24.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.829). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,250,000 | |
| 2025 | $15,900,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $1,100,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this CCBHC Planning Grant?
Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community health centers (FQHCs), community mental health centers, substance abuse treatment providers, and state/local governmental entities. Organizations must demonstrate organizational capacity and commitment to establishing a CCBHC.
What activities can be funded under this planning grant?
Funds support planning activities including needs and capacity assessments, governance structure development, clinical workflow design, workforce planning, training programs, infrastructure evaluation, and preparation for CCBHC certification and billing compliance.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline date was not specified in available grant information. Check the official SAMHSA notice of funding opportunity or grants.gov for exact application deadlines and submission instructions.
What is the expected funding range for this planning grant?
Specific award amounts typically range from $75,000 to $150,000 for planning grants of this type, though actual amounts vary by funding cycle. Applicants should review the current NOFO for exact range and budget guidance.
How competitive is this grant program?
SAMHSA planning grants are moderately to highly competitive. Success requires strong organizational capacity, clear vision for CCBHC development, evidence of community need, and demonstrated commitment to serving underserved populations and complex behavioral health needs.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with a clear, compelling needs assessment that documents behavioral health gaps in your service area, including prevalence data for both mental health and substance use disorders.
- Build a strong planning team that includes clinical leaders, administrators, lived experience representatives, and key community partners to demonstrate capacity for CCBHC operations.
- Develop detailed timelines and milestones for the planning phase that realistically lead to certification readiness, including workforce recruitment and infrastructure development.
- Emphasize your organization's ability to serve vulnerable and underserved populations, including those with complex comorbidities, criminal justice involvement, and multiple barriers to care.
- Create a sustainability and implementation plan that addresses long-term funding (including billing preparedness), staffing models, and integration of physical and behavioral health services.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many applications fail to adequately document current capacity gaps and why CCBHC certification is necessary rather than incremental improvement. Applicants often underestimate the scope and complexity of planning work required (governance, billing infrastructure, clinical protocols) and submit vague implementation timelines without realistic milestones or accountability measures for grant-funded planning activities.
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