BJA FY 2026 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative

Up to $3 million for coordinated public safety, mental health and substance-use service networks that expand treatment access and reduce repeated justice-system and emergency-system involvement.

FundingApproximately $38,000,000 total; approximately 13 awards of up to $3,000,000 each for 36 months. Required non-Federal match: 20% of total project costs across Years 1 and 2 combined and 40% in Year 3; cash and in-kind match are permitted under the NOFO.

DeadlineGrants.gov step closed September 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET; complete JustGrants application due October 2, 2026 at 8:59 PM ET for applicants that completed the first step.

Last verifiedSeptember 30, 2026

Required next actionIf the applicant completed the Grants.gov step by September 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET, finalize the JustGrants application by October 2, 2026 at 8:59 PM ET. Reconfirm lead-applicant eligibility, any required state mental-health-authority designation, the required non-Federal match, project partnerships, and all JustGrants attachments before submission. Applicants that missed the Grants.gov step cannot newly enter the JustGrants stage.

Broad Eligibility

Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, special district and other qualifying local governments, federally recognized Tribal governments and qualifying Tribal organizations. Nonprofit or for-profit mental health agencies and other non-governmental applicants may apply only when they satisfy the NOFO's state mental-health-authority designation requirements and provide the required documentation.

Atlas Analysis

BJA's FY 2026 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative is now active only for applicants that completed the required first-stage Grants.gov submission by September 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern. BJA states that applicants who missed that first step cannot newly apply in JustGrants. Timely first-stage applicants may complete the JustGrants application through October 2, 2026 at 8:59 PM Eastern. Treat this record as conditionally open to those timely applicants and keep project scope, partnerships, documentation, budget, and match requirements aligned to the controlling NOFO.

The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance is accepting applications for the FY 2026 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative. The program supports coordinated service networks addressing untreated mental illness and substance use across public safety, justice, behavioral health and treatment systems.

For healthcare and behavioral-health organizations, Atlas views this primarily as a government-led partnership opportunity. Independent nonprofit or for-profit mental health agencies should not assume direct eligibility; non-governmental applicants must meet the NOFO’s state mental-health-authority designation requirements.

Source verificationOfficial government source · www.bja.ojp.govAtlas last verified this record September 30, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗