Navigator Emergency Department Diversion Models for Non-Urgent Mental Health Concerns (R34 Clinical Trial Required)
🏛 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 teams developing navigator programs that divert non-urgent mental health cases from emergency departments. The grant requires a clinical trial design to test the intervention.
Eligible applicants include academic medical centers, health systems, and research institutions with 501(c)(3) status. Principal investigators must have appropriate research credentials and institutional research support. Organizations must have capacity to conduct rigorous clinical trials and serve populations with non-urgent mental health needs.
This is an NIH R34 planning grant, not direct service funding. Proposed programs must focus on navigator-led or care coordination models that reduce ED utilization for mental health concerns. Geographic scope is nationwide; organizations anywhere in the U.S. can apply if they meet research capacity requirements.
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Program description
The purpose of this NOFO is to build research about the effectiveness, implementation, and optimization of family navigation ED diversion models for non-urgent mental health problems. Models of interest are designed to (a) utilize triage tools to identify mental health acuity, (b) facilitate engagement in mental health services and needed resources, and (c) provide support, knowledge about the mental health condition, and facilitate linkages/address barriers to help-seeking among families.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- 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
- Research & Related Senior/Key Personnel Biographical Sketches (PD/PI and key staff)
- Research & Related Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) letter or approval
- Letters of Support from partner emergency departments and mental health organizations
- Specific Aims (1 page maximum)
- Research Strategy (includes Significance, Innovation, Approach)
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
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$64,705,159
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$63,991,707
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$54,214,022
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$48,653,752
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$38,895,082
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$38,475,557
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$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 can be the principal investigator on this grant?
The PI must hold a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, PsyD, or equivalent) and have research experience. Your institution must provide research infrastructure support and institutional review board capabilities.
What is an R34 grant?
R34 is an NIH planning/feasibility grant. It funds research design and preliminary data collection, not full-scale clinical trials. Successful projects often lead to larger R01 funding.
Can we just propose a program without a clinical trial component?
No. This grant requires a clinical trial design. You must include randomization or comparison groups to test your navigator model's effectiveness.
How much money is typically available?
R34 grants typically range from $225,000 to $275,000 total costs over two years. Budget requirements vary; check the specific FOA for current limits.
What makes applications competitive?
Strong preliminary data on navigator models, clear mental health disparities in your target population, experienced research team, and realistic trial design increase competitiveness.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with published evidence on navigator or care coordination programs that reduce ED utilization for mental health. Use this to justify your approach.
- Partner with local emergency departments and mental health providers early. Letters of support from clinical partners are essential for credibility.
- Build a strong research team that includes mental health clinicians, trial design experts, and biostatisticians. Include experience with your target population.
- Design a feasible trial for the planning phase. R34s should answer key questions but don't need to be definitive; focus on proof-of-concept.
- Budget realistically for recruitment, retention, clinical oversight, and data management. NIH reviewers scrutinize whether costs match proposed activities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing a service program without research questions or trial components. R34s fund research, not direct service delivery. Underestimating costs for clinical trial infrastructure like IRB review, data and safety monitoring, and outcome measurement. Weak collaboration with ED and mental health clinicians—reviewers need evidence that partners are committed and capable.
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