National Center for Child Traumatic Stress – Category 1
🏛 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis (HHS-SAMHS-SAMHSA)
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations seeking to support traumatic stress research, training, dissemination, and technical assistance focused on children and adolescents. Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, universities and colleges, hospitals, community mental health centers, state and local government agencies, tribal organizations, and Indian Health Organizations. The grant supports evidence-based interventions, professional development, and capacity-building in child traumatic stress services across the United States. Priority is often given to organizations addressing underserved and vulnerable populations, including children exposed to violence, abuse, disaster, and other traumatic events. Geographic scope is national, and activities may include training clinicians, developing clinical resources, conducting research, and providing consultation to communities and service providers.
Program description
The purpose of the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI) – Category I National Center for Child Traumatic Stress program is to create/maintain the national coordinating center that serves the NCTSI network.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement (if required by specific FOA)
- Project Narrative/Statement of Need (typically 15-25 pages)
- Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity documentation (resumes, job descriptions, organizational chart)
- Evidence of nonprofit status (IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter or equivalent)
- Letters of support/commitment from key partners and stakeholders
- Evaluation plan with measurable objectives and outcomes
- Environmental scan or needs assessment data for target population
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Raphaelle Richardson
- 📧 cat1nofonctsi@samhsa.hhs.gov
- 📞 (240) 276-1137
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 93.532 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 93.532). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2026 est. | $945,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, government agencies, universities, hospitals, community mental health centers, tribal organizations, and faith-based organizations are typically eligible. Applicants must have demonstrated experience or capacity in child mental health or trauma-related services.
What types of activities does this grant fund?
Common activities include research on child traumatic stress, clinical training for providers, development of evidence-based resources, technical assistance to communities, dissemination of best practices, and capacity-building in trauma-informed care.
What is the typical funding range?
SAMHSA grants vary widely depending on the category and scope. Typically these grants range from $100,000 to $500,000+ annually, but you should verify the specific funding details on Grants.gov.
How competitive is this grant?
SAMHSA grants are highly competitive. Strong applications demonstrate organizational capacity, a clear understanding of child traumatic stress needs in your target population, partnerships with other service providers, and a detailed evaluation plan.
When is the application deadline?
The specific deadline for this funding cycle was not specified. You should monitor Grants.gov regularly or contact SAMHSA directly for exact deadline information and opening/closing dates.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate how your organization's work addresses a specific gap in child traumatic stress services or research in your target region or population.
- Develop strong partnerships with other organizations, schools, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders to demonstrate a coordinated approach and expand reach.
- Use evidence-based frameworks and cite relevant research on childhood trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and effective interventions in your proposal narrative.
- Include detailed evaluation metrics that demonstrate how you will measure outcomes, track implementation fidelity, and document the impact on children and families served.
- Emphasize organizational capacity, staff qualifications, financial stability, and prior experience with federal funding; highlight relevant certifications or accreditations in mental health service delivery.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail when they lack demonstrated expertise in child traumatic stress or mental health services, or when the proposed activities are not aligned with evidence-based practices. Weak applications frequently omit meaningful community partnerships, underestimate the complexity of serving trauma-exposed children, or present vague evaluation plans that don't clearly measure outcomes or impact on the target population.
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