Grants to Expand Substance Use Disorder Treatment Capacity in Adult and Family Treatment Drug Courts
🏛 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis (HHS-SAMHS-SAMHSA)
Can you apply?
This grant is for state and local courts, court agencies, and organizations working with drug courts seeking to expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment capacity within adult and family treatment drug court programs. Eligible applicants include government agencies, nonprofits, and court-based organizations that operate or support drug courts. The program supports activities that increase access to and quality of SUD treatment services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system through drug courts. Preference is typically given to applicants serving high-need populations or rural areas. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to implement evidence-based treatment practices and have partnerships with treatment providers. Geographic scope is nationwide, though funding may prioritize underserved regions.
Program description
The purpose of this program is to expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services in existing drug courts. Grant recipients will be required to implement a coordinated, multisystem approach that combines the legal authority of treatment drug courts with evidence-based SUD treatment services. Key stakeholders include the judiciary, prosecution, defense attorneys, probation services, law enforcement, mental health professionals, social service agencies, and treatment providers. The objective is to disrupt the recurring pattern of criminal behavior, substance use, and incarceration or other legal consequences.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal grant application form)
- Project narrative/statement of need describing treatment capacity gaps and target population
- Detailed budget and budget narrative
- Letters of commitment from treatment provider partners and drug court stakeholders
- Organizational capacity documentation (staff qualifications, past performance on similar initiatives)
- Evaluation plan describing how outcomes will be measured
- Sustainability plan addressing funding beyond the grant period
- Evidence of organizational experience with substance use disorder treatment or drug courts
- Organizational chart and job descriptions for new positions to be created
Program contact
- 👤 Amy Romero
- 📧 treatmentdrugcourts@samhsa.hhs.gov
- 📞 240-276-0736
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?
Eligible applicants typically include drug courts, state and local court agencies, government entities, nonprofits supporting drug courts, and organizations with established partnerships with substance use disorder treatment providers.
What activities does this grant support?
The grant supports expanding SUD treatment capacity in drug court settings, including hiring treatment staff, increasing treatment beds, improving treatment quality, implementing evidence-based practices, and enhancing coordination between courts and treatment providers.
What is the typical funding amount for this grant?
Funding amounts vary by grant program cycle, but SAMHSA grants typically range from $100,000 to $500,000 annually. Consult current SAMHSA announcements for specific funding details.
What are the key factors that make an application competitive?
Competitive applications demonstrate a clear need for expanded treatment capacity, include strong partnerships with treatment providers, show evidence of using evidence-based practices, address disparities in access, and present realistic implementation plans with adequate staffing and infrastructure.
What is the application deadline?
The application open date is March 20, 2026. Check Grants.gov or the SAMHSA website closer to that date for the specific deadline and submission requirements.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish and document strong partnerships with licensed substance use disorder treatment providers before applying; reviewers want evidence of concrete coordination agreements.
- Use local data to demonstrate the specific treatment capacity gaps in your drug court, including wait times, treatment admissions denied, and unmet treatment needs in your jurisdiction.
- Highlight your commitment to evidence-based treatment practices (such as medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy) and how expanded capacity will allow broader adoption.
- Include a detailed implementation timeline and budget that clearly shows how funds will expand treatment capacity—specify number of new staff, additional treatment slots, or infrastructure improvements.
- Address sustainability beyond the grant period by outlining how expanded services will be maintained through fee structures, state funding, insurance billing, or other revenue streams.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they lack concrete partnerships with treatment providers or fail to demonstrate existing drug court infrastructure capable of managing expanded capacity. Many applicants overstate capacity without addressing staffing, licensing, or facility constraints. Weak applications also fail to use local data to justify the need for expansion or to clearly connect proposed activities to measurable reductions in SUD treatment gaps within the drug court population.
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