The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Pathways (RCORP-Pathways) is a funding opportunity provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through its Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. The program seeks to address behavioral health challenges among rural youth while also fostering pathways to behavioral health careers. The goal is to strengthen behavioral health care in rural communities through peer-driven support programs and career development initiatives. The program encourages applicants to establish networks of organizations that will work together to engage youth in developing and implementing behavioral health support programming.

This funding opportunity is structured as a three-year grant with a total available funding of $4,800,000 for up to 12 grants. Each awarded organization can receive up to $400,000 per year, depending on available federal appropriations. The period of performance will be from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2028. The first year may be dedicated to planning, including forming partnerships, developing curricula, and engaging youth, with full implementation required by the second year.

Eligible applicants include domestic public or private, non-profit, or for-profit entities such as public and private higher education institutions, non-profits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations including small businesses, state and local governments, school districts, and tribal entities. Applicants must propose projects in rural service areas, as determined by the HRSA Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer. At least 50% of the network members involved in the project must have a physical presence in the target rural service area.

The application deadline is April 14, 2025, and the expected award date is August 1, 2025. The program start date is September 1, 2025. A pre-application informational webinar will be scheduled, but the exact date has not yet been announced. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and require active registration with SAM.gov.

Applicants must submit a detailed proposal that includes a project narrative, a work plan, a budget narrative, and letters of support from network partners. Proposals will be evaluated based on six criteria: background, organizational information, approach, work plan, data and reporting, and support requested, totaling 100 points. Special emphasis is placed on demonstrating the need for the program, the effectiveness of the proposed approach, and sustainability beyond the grant period.

Key personnel required for the project include a Project Director, a Learning Collaborative Point of Contact, and a Data Coordinator. Funded organizations must participate in the RCORP-Pathways Learning Collaborative, which will facilitate knowledge sharing and technical assistance. Recipients must also conduct a financial resources assessment to explore sustainability options after the grant period.

For questions regarding program eligibility, applicants can contact Caitlin Dunn (Program Coordinator, HRSA) at ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov or 301-480-9743. For financial or budget-related inquiries, Lissette Young (Grants Management Specialist) can be reached at lyoung@hrsa.gov or 301-287-9864. Additional information is available through HRSA’s grant portal.