The FY 2024 Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) for States funding opportunity, managed by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, is designed to assist states in building prevention capacities to reduce substance misuse and related behavioral health issues. This program specifically targets communities facing high risks of substance misuse by supporting the development and delivery of evidence-based, data-driven prevention services at the state and community levels. By leveraging the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), this initiative prioritizes underage drinking, opioid misuse, and other substance use concerns. The funding emphasizes the involvement of underserved communities, which includes racial, ethnic, and geographic groups systematically denied access to necessary resources and services.

Eligible applicants are U.S. states, territories, Pacific jurisdictions, and the District of Columbia. The funding opportunity is not open to entities that have previously received SPF-PFS funds under specific past awards to avoid redundancy in funding. For FY 2024, SAMHSA will distribute a total of $15.5 million across approximately 12 awards, with each award offering up to $1.25 million annually over a five-year period, contingent on available appropriations. Applications are due by February 21, 2024, with anticipated project start dates of September 30, 2024.

Required activities include assessing community needs, building partnerships, collecting and analyzing data, and implementing community-level health assessments. States are expected to create a statewide community health improvement plan that aligns with prevention priorities identified through these assessments. At least 60% of each award must be directed to subrecipient communities that demonstrate a need for programming in chosen priority areas. The SPF process involves five main steps—assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, and evaluation—plus guiding principles of cultural competence and sustainability. States must ensure coordination with other community-based recipients of SPF-PFS funding and leverage partnerships with the Prevention Technology Transfer Center for technical support.

Applications must include a project narrative limited to 10 pages, detailing the project’s goals, objectives, required activities, and a budget justification. SAMHSA requires a dedicated Project Director and Data Analyst with specific time commitments. A letter to the Single State Agency, confidentiality protocols, and biographical sketches are also required. Bonus points are available for applicants demonstrating a focus on underserved populations, making up at least 50% of the population served. Data collection will follow the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act, with performance data submitted quarterly via SAMHSA’s reporting system (SPARS).

Evaluation criteria for the grant include feasibility, organizational capacity, project alignment with program goals, cost-effectiveness, and commitment to behavioral health equity. Applicants must provide documentation of their efforts to identify and address health disparities in the populations served. Grant recipients must report on performance quarterly and annually, including progress in underserved communities and efforts to reduce behavioral health disparities.