A practical guide to grants for trauma-informed services and adverse childhood experience (ACE) work, federal SAMHSA and ACF funding, foundations, and best practices.
2025–2026 STATUS UPDATE: HHS announced restructuring in March 2025 that consolidates SAMHSA, HRSA, OASH, ATSDR, and NIOSH into a new “Administration for a Healthy America (AHA)” as part of a ~25% HHS workforce reduction. Programs and contact pathways may have shifted. Verify at hhs.gov.
Trauma-informed care has become a central frame across human services. Federal funders, especially SAMHSA, ACF, and DOJ, and major foundations actively support trauma-informed work across sectors.
TL;DR
- Who funds trauma work? SAMHSA, ACF, DOJ OVW and OVC, HRSA, CDC, foundations.
- Who can apply? Behavioral health providers, child welfare agencies, schools, community-based organizations, survivor services, healthcare.
- What gets funded? Training, direct services, child-serving systems transformation, ACEs prevention, healing-centered work.
Federal Funding
SAMHSA. National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI), Trauma-Informed Substance Use Treatment, and many programs that integrate trauma-informed care.
ACF. Family Violence Prevention and Services, OTIP (anti-trafficking with trauma framing), Children’s Bureau child welfare programs.
DOJ Office for Victims of Crime and Office on Violence Against Women for survivor services.
HRSA for trauma-informed primary care and behavioral health integration.
CDC ACEs prevention work.
Foundation Funders
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
- Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
- Annie E. Casey Foundation.
- Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
- Health conversion foundations.
What Gets Funded
- Trauma-informed training for staff and partners.
- Direct trauma-focused services (TF-CBT, EMDR, CPP, ARC, and others).
- System transformation (child welfare, juvenile justice, schools, healthcare).
- ACEs prevention (CDC’s Essentials for Childhood).
- Healing-centered and culturally specific approaches.
- Survivor services, see grants for criminal justice reform.
Tips for a Competitive Application
- Use evidence-based trauma practices.
- Center community voice and survivor leadership.
- Show cultural and linguistic responsiveness.
- Address staff wellness and secondary trauma.
- Plan for sustainability of trauma-informed practice beyond grant cycles.
How Grantboost Helps
Grantboost surfaces trauma-related funding across SAMHSA, ACF, DOJ, HRSA, CDC, and foundations, with drafts in your organization’s voice (see training AI on your past proposals).
Read next:
- SAMHSA Grants: A Guide to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Funding
- ACF Grants: A Guide to Administration for Children and Families Funding
- Grants for Mental Health Nonprofits
Further Reading
- SAMHSA National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- SAMHSA TIP series (Trauma-Informed Care)
- Grants.gov (federal funding portal)
- Wikipedia: Trauma-informed care
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.