Opportunity Information: Apply for SM 22 001

Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The core goal is to help states and communities build a lasting, coordinated infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and services, rather than funding one-off activities that disappear when the grant ends. In practice, the program is designed to strengthen how schools identify student mental health needs, connect students to appropriate supports, and sustain those supports over time through formal partnerships and shared systems.

A central expectation of the grant is the creation of a broad, collaborative partnership. Recipients are expected to bring together the State Education Agency (SEA), Local Education Agencies (LEAs), the State Mental Health Agency (SMHA), and community-based behavioral health providers, along with school personnel and community organizations. Just as importantly, the partnership is meant to include families and school-aged youth themselves, recognizing that effective school mental health systems work best when students and caregivers have a real voice in how supports are shaped and delivered. This collaborative structure is intended to reduce fragmentation between education and mental health systems, clarify roles and referral pathways, and improve follow-through so students actually receive services they are referred to.

The work under Project AWARE is framed around a public health model, meaning it is not limited to clinical treatment alone. Instead, it spans a continuum of strategies, including mental health promotion (supporting positive social and emotional development), awareness (improving understanding of mental health and reducing stigma), prevention (addressing risk factors early and building protective factors), and intervention (responding when students show signs of need or distress). The emphasis is on ensuring students have access to effective behavioral health services and are connected to them in a timely, practical way. That can include strengthening screening and referral processes, building school and community capacity, and improving coordination so services are appropriate, evidence-informed, and accessible for diverse student populations.

SAMHSA also positions Project AWARE as a strategy to support safer school environments. By improving mental health supports and early intervention, the program is expected to promote healthy social and emotional development among school-aged youth and contribute to preventing youth violence in school settings. The underlying idea is that when schools and community partners can recognize concerns early, respond consistently, and provide effective supports, students are more likely to feel connected, regulated, and supported, which can reduce crises and improve overall school climate.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number SM 22 001 under CFDA 93.243. It is a grant (not a contract), categorized under health-related funding activities. The award ceiling is $1,800,000, with an anticipated total of three awards. The opportunity was created on March 3, 2022, with an original closing date of May 2, 2022. Eligibility is listed as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the opportunity’s eligibility details, which typically means applicants need to review the full notice for the specific entities and partnership structures SAMHSA allows or requires.

  • The Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.243.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Mar 03, 2022.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 02, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,800,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for SM 22 001

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Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) - FAQs

What is Project AWARE?

Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It focuses on strengthening school-based mental health systems through coordinated, sustainable infrastructure.

What is the main purpose of this grant?

The core goal is to help states and communities build a lasting, coordinated infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and services. The emphasis is on creating systems and partnerships that can continue beyond the grant period rather than funding one-time activities that end when funding ends.

Who administers and funds Project AWARE?

The opportunity is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and administered by SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

Is this funding a grant or a contract?

This opportunity is a grant (not a contract).

What type of activity category does this funding fall under?

The opportunity is categorized under health-related funding activities.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is SM 22 001.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.243.

How much funding is available per award?

The award ceiling is $1,800,000.

How many awards are anticipated?

SAMHSA anticipated a total of three awards under this opportunity.

When was this opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on March 3, 2022, and the original closing date was May 2, 2022.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the opportunity's eligibility details. This generally means applicants must review the full notice to confirm which entities and partnership structures are allowed or required.

What organizations are expected to be involved in a Project AWARE partnership?

A central expectation is a broad, collaborative partnership that brings together the State Education Agency (SEA), Local Education Agencies (LEAs), the State Mental Health Agency (SMHA), and community-based behavioral health providers. The partnership is also expected to include school personnel and community organizations.

Are families and youth expected to be included in the partnership?

Yes. The partnership is intended to include families and school-aged youth themselves so that students and caregivers have a real voice in shaping supports and services.

Why is collaboration across education and mental health systems emphasized?

The collaborative structure is intended to reduce fragmentation between education and mental health systems, clarify roles and referral pathways, and improve follow-through so students actually receive services they are referred to.

What does it mean that Project AWARE uses a public health model?

It means the work is not limited to clinical treatment. Instead, it spans a continuum that includes mental health promotion, awareness, prevention, and intervention, with an emphasis on timely and practical connections to effective behavioral health supports.

What kinds of strategies does Project AWARE support?

The program spans a continuum of strategies, including:

  • Mental health promotion (supporting positive social and emotional development)
  • Awareness (improving understanding of mental health and reducing stigma)
  • Prevention (addressing risk factors early and building protective factors)
  • Intervention (responding when students show signs of need or distress)

Does Project AWARE focus only on treatment services?

No. The emphasis is on strengthening the full system of supports across promotion, awareness, prevention, and intervention, including how students are identified, referred, and connected to appropriate services.

What does the grant aim to improve in schools operationally?

The program is designed to strengthen how schools identify student mental health needs, connect students to appropriate supports, and sustain those supports over time through formal partnerships and shared systems.

How does Project AWARE address screening and referrals?

The opportunity highlights strengthening screening and referral processes and improving coordination so students are connected to effective, appropriate supports in a timely way.

What is meant by building a "lasting, coordinated infrastructure"?

It refers to establishing shared systems, formal partnerships, and coordinated processes that continue to function over time, rather than activities that stop when the grant ends.

How does this grant address diverse student populations?

The program emphasizes improving coordination so services are accessible and appropriate for diverse student populations and are evidence-informed.

How is Project AWARE connected to school safety?

SAMHSA positions Project AWARE as a strategy to support safer school environments by improving mental health supports and early intervention, promoting healthy social and emotional development, and contributing to preventing youth violence in school settings.

How does improving mental health supports help prevent crises in schools?

The underlying approach is that when schools and community partners recognize concerns early, respond consistently, and provide effective supports, students are more likely to feel connected and supported, which can reduce crises and improve overall school climate.

Is this program focused on a single school district or broader systems?

Based on the stated expectations (including involvement of SEA, LEAs, SMHA, and community providers), the program is oriented toward coordinated systems and partnerships rather than isolated efforts.

What are the key agencies and acronyms referenced in this opportunity?

  • SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  • HHS: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • SEA: State Education Agency
  • LEA: Local Education Agency
  • SMHA: State Mental Health Agency
  • CFDA: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Where should applicants look for the exact eligibility requirements?

Because eligibility is listed as "Others" with clarification referenced in the eligibility details, applicants should consult the full funding notice to confirm which entities can apply and what partnership structure SAMHSA allows or requires.

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