For programmatic questions:
Dr. Michelle Carnes
240.276.1869
NativeConnections@samhsa.hhs.gov

For financial and grants management questions:
Corey Sullivan
240.276.1213
FOACMHS@samhsa.hhs.gov

The Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program (Short Title: Native Connections) awards funding for projects designed to prevent suicidal behavior and substance misuse, create culturally appropriate models to reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) young people up to the age of 24. AI/AN community members should be involved in all grant activities, including planning, program implementation, and evaluation. At a minimum, community members should include youth, family members, tribal leaders, and spiritual advisors.

Although each grantee's program will be different and reflect the needs, values, and culture of their community, all grantees must:

• Develop policies and procedures to promote coordination among youth-serving agencies
• Develop and/or revise protocols to ensure that youth at risk for suicide receive follow-up services to ease their transition into treatment
• Develop and/or revise community "postvention" protocols for responding to suicides, suicide attempts, and suicide clusters to promote community healing and reduce the possibility of contagion
• Develop and implement mental health awareness training, including raising awareness of the importance of suicide prevention strategies
• Implement community substance misuse prevention strategies including public messaging; training on the risk of substance use; and education in school settings

Eligible applicants are federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribes, tribal organizations, and consortia of tribes or tribal organizations.

Estimated award amount: $250,000 per year
Project period: 5 years
Estimated number of awards: 39
Estimated total program funding: $9,820,000

Links to the full announcement and online application process are available through grants.gov.

Links to additional guidance and the application instructions are available on the program website.