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.

FundingUp to $3,000,000 per award

DeadlineGrants.gov step due September 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET; complete JustGrants application due October 2, 2026 at 8:59 PM ET

Last verifiedAugust 28, 2026

Required next actionConfirm lead-applicant eligibility and any required state mental-health-authority designation, complete the Grants.gov submission by September 25 at 11:59 PM ET, then complete the full JustGrants application by October 2 at 8:59 PM ET.

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

High-value behavioral-health systems opportunity for jurisdictions building coordinated pathways across crisis response, public safety, justice, mental health and substance-use treatment. Healthcare organizations should prioritize partnership roles that create measurable treatment access, continuity, diversion, stabilization and reduced repeat emergency or justice-system utilization.

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 August 28, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗