Open now. The California Department of Health Care Services’ Elevate Youth California Cohort 8 Standard Track will award approximately $44 million statewide for youth and young-adult substance-use-disorder prevention through policy, systems, and environmental change. Applications are due September 21, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Funding: Up to $1,000,000 over three years, with caps tied to the applicant’s FY 2025-26 operating budget. No mandatory match or cost share requirement was identified in the current RFA. The project period is expected to run January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029; payment includes an initial 20% advance followed by semiannual reimbursements.
Current FAQ clarifications: Applicants with a current fiscal-year operating budget at or below $50,000 must apply under a fiscal sponsor. Indirect costs may not exceed 20% of direct costs. Additional attachments beyond the required application attachments will not be reviewed. Collaboration is not required. EYC anticipates setting aside up to 85% of funding for urban programs and organizations and up to 15% for rural programs and organizations.
Eligibility: Applicants must have an office in California, provide services in California, and have key staff residing in California. Eligible structures include qualifying 501(c)(3) community-based organizations, federally recognized Tribal 638 organizations, qualifying fiscally sponsored nonprofit projects, eligible nonprofit coalitions/collaboratives, and county behavioral health organizations only when they are the county’s sole provider of prevention services. School districts, schools, charter schools, and county offices of education are ineligible.
Allowability and procurement constraints: The program is prevention/PSE focused; clinical services such as counseling, therapy, case management, and SUD treatment are unallowable. Major equipment with a useful life over one year and a unit cost above $5,000 requires prior written approval from DHCS/The Center. For-profit subcontracting for core EYC activities is not allowed.
Application: Submit through the online application by the deadline. Required materials include Proposed Budget and Justification (Form 1), Work Plan (Form 2), signed letter(s) of support, current fiscal-year organizational budget, W-9, IRS determination letter, latest Form 990, and available audited/recent financial statements. Program contact: elevateyouthca@shfcenter.org; 916-226-3900.
Atlas assessment: Opportunity Score 69/100. N9+ direct fit remains very low (4/100): N9+ is not a core program need, clinical services are excluded, major equipment would require prior written approval, and Dr. Miltie is not an eligible direct applicant. Do not initiate N9+/Dr. Miltie outreach absent a qualified eligible grantee identifying a compliant non-core need and confirming approval/allowability.