The FY 2024 Tribal Behavioral Health (Native Connections) funding opportunity, administered by SAMHSA, is designed to address suicide, trauma, and substance use/misuse among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, up to age 24, by strengthening community networks and culturally relevant mental health systems. The program provides grants of up to $250,000 annually for a maximum project period of five years, with an application deadline of March 6, 2024, for FY 2024. This opportunity is exclusively open to federally recognized AI/AN tribes, tribal organizations, Urban Indian Organizations, or consortia of tribes or tribal organizations.

The program's primary objectives include the prevention and reduction of suicidal behaviors, substance use, and trauma impacts in AI/AN youth populations. Grantees are required to conduct community needs and readiness assessments, develop strategic action plans for suicide prevention, substance misuse, and mental health, and create culturally appropriate postvention protocols. Activities should address multiple prevention levels: universal, selective, and indicated. The program promotes youth advisory boards and requires tribal involvement in all planning and evaluation stages to ensure community alignment with intervention strategies.

Applicants must submit a detailed project narrative, budget, and supporting documents. They are also encouraged to include a Disparity Impact Statement (DIS) within 60 days of award to identify and address health disparities among targeted populations. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including the relevance of the proposed project to community needs, feasibility, organizational capacity, and data collection strategies. Bonus points may be awarded for projects targeting underserved populations and implementing DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) strategies.

Funded projects must adhere to SAMHSA's reporting requirements, including quarterly performance and financial reports, and regular data submissions through SAMHSA's SPARS system.