Opportunity Information: Apply for MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACT 2020
The Mental-Health-and-Wellness-Act-2020 grant opportunity (Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, or LEMHWA) is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). Its purpose is to strengthen mental health and wellness support for law enforcement personnel by expanding access to services and improving how those services are delivered. The program emphasizes practical, field-tested approaches, especially peer mentoring and peer support models, and it supports efforts that can be shared, replicated, and scaled across agencies.
LEMHWA 2020 funding is aimed at projects that build knowledge and awareness about effective mental health and wellness strategies for law enforcement, improve skills and capabilities within agencies to address mental health needs, and increase adoption of peer mentoring programs by law enforcement agencies and related stakeholders. The program supports work such as training and technical assistance, demonstration projects that test or showcase promising approaches, and implementation of practices that have shown positive results. The COPS Office frames this effort within its broader mission of supporting public safety through community policing, recognizing that officer wellness and organizational readiness are closely tied to effective policing outcomes.
The solicitation is organized around four main topic areas. First are Peer Support Implementation Projects, which focus on putting peer support or peer mentoring programs into practice within agencies or improving existing programs. Second is a National Peer Support Program for Small and Rural Agencies, intended to address the unique resource constraints and geographic challenges faced by smaller departments and rural jurisdictions by providing accessible peer support capacity and models that fit those environments. Third is a LEMHWA Coordinator Assistance Provider role, which generally implies a coordinating entity that can help organize, guide, and support program activities across participants, potentially through structured assistance, resources, and ongoing facilitation. Fourth is Invitational Applications, a category reserved for applicants specifically invited under the program rules; the application guide would define what qualifies and who may apply under that track.
Financially, the program makes up to approximately $4.3 million available in total funding, with an award ceiling of $350,000 per award and an expected 36 awards. Awards are issued for a 24-month (two-year) project period. Importantly for applicants, there is no local match requirement, which can reduce the financial barrier to participation. However, the solicitation notes that funds are limited and competition is expected to be strong, so proposals typically need clear goals, well-defined activities, realistic timelines, and measurable outcomes tied directly to officer mental health and wellness improvements and peer support adoption.
From an administrative standpoint, awards are issued primarily as cooperative agreements (and the listing also references grants), meaning there is substantial federal involvement during the project. In practice, this often indicates closer coordination with the federal awarding agency, more structured reporting and oversight, and collaborative engagement on deliverables or implementation milestones compared to a standard grant. Awards are also contingent on the availability of appropriated funds and any legal or policy requirements that may apply at the time of award.
Key timing details listed for this opportunity include a creation date of January 28, 2020, and an original application closing date of March 31, 2020, with applications due by 7:59 p.m. EDT on 3/31/2020. Applications submitted after that deadline were not to be considered. The program is cataloged under CFDA number 16.710 and falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with clarification referenced in an additional eligibility section of the solicitation materials, so prospective applicants would need to confirm eligibility by consulting the application guide for the specific eligible entity types and any topic-area-specific restrictions.Apply for MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACT 2020
- The Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mental-Health-and-Wellness-Act-2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.710.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 28, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2020 The deadline for submitting applications in response to this grant announcement is 759 p.m. EDT on 3/31/2020. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered for funding.. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 36 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - LEMHWA 2020 (Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act)
What is the LEMHWA 2020 grant opportunity?
The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) 2020 opportunity is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). It is designed to strengthen mental health and wellness support for law enforcement personnel by expanding access to services and improving how those services are delivered.
Who is the funding agency for this program?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).
What is the main purpose of LEMHWA 2020 funding?
The program supports efforts that improve officer mental health and wellness by expanding access to support services and improving delivery of those services, with a strong emphasis on practical, field-tested approaches such as peer mentoring and peer support.
What approaches does the program emphasize most?
The solicitation emphasizes practical and field-tested approaches, particularly peer mentoring and peer support models. It also prioritizes work that can be shared, replicated, and scaled across law enforcement agencies.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
Based on the description provided, LEMHWA 2020 aims to:
- Build knowledge and awareness of effective mental health and wellness strategies for law enforcement personnel
- Improve skills and capabilities within agencies to address mental health needs
- Increase adoption of peer mentoring and peer support programs by law enforcement agencies and related stakeholders
How does this program connect to community policing?
The COPS Office places this work within its broader mission of supporting public safety through community policing, noting that officer wellness and organizational readiness are closely tied to effective policing outcomes.
What types of projects are supported under LEMHWA 2020?
The opportunity supports activities such as training and technical assistance, demonstration projects that test or showcase promising approaches, and implementation of practices that have shown positive results related to officer wellness and peer support adoption.
What are the four main topic areas in the solicitation?
The solicitation is organized around four topic areas:
- Peer Support Implementation Projects (implementing or improving peer support/peer mentoring programs)
- National Peer Support Program for Small and Rural Agencies (addressing constraints and geographic challenges for small/rural departments)
- LEMHWA Coordinator Assistance Provider (a coordinating entity that helps organize, guide, and support program activities)
- Invitational Applications (reserved for applicants specifically invited under program rules)
What are Peer Support Implementation Projects?
Peer Support Implementation Projects focus on putting peer support or peer mentoring programs into practice within agencies or improving programs that already exist.
What is the National Peer Support Program for Small and Rural Agencies intended to do?
This topic area is intended to address unique resource constraints and geographic challenges faced by smaller departments and rural jurisdictions by providing accessible peer support capacity and models that fit those environments.
What does the LEMHWA Coordinator Assistance Provider role involve?
The Coordinator Assistance Provider role generally indicates a coordinating entity that can help organize, guide, and support program activities across participants, potentially through structured assistance, resources, and ongoing facilitation.
What are Invitational Applications?
Invitational Applications are a category reserved for applicants who are specifically invited under the program rules. The application guide is expected to define what qualifies and who may apply under that track.
How much total funding is available under LEMHWA 2020?
The program makes up to approximately $4.3 million available in total funding.
What is the maximum award amount per grant/cooperative agreement?
The award ceiling is $350,000 per award.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The solicitation indicates an expectation of 36 awards.
How long is the project period?
Awards are issued for a 24-month (two-year) project period.
Is there a local match requirement?
No. The opportunity states there is no local match requirement.
Is this program expected to be competitive?
Yes. The solicitation notes that funds are limited and competition is expected to be strong, so applications typically need clear goals, well-defined activities, realistic timelines, and measurable outcomes tied to officer mental health and wellness improvements and peer support adoption.
What kind of award instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards are issued primarily as cooperative agreements (and the listing also references grants). Cooperative agreements generally imply substantial federal involvement during the project, often including closer coordination with the awarding agency and more structured oversight.
What does "substantial federal involvement" mean for this opportunity?
Because the program is described as being issued primarily as cooperative agreements, it typically indicates closer coordination with the federal awarding agency, more structured reporting and oversight, and collaborative engagement on deliverables or implementation milestones compared with a standard grant.
Are awards guaranteed once selected?
No. Awards are contingent on the availability of appropriated funds and on any legal or policy requirements that may apply at the time of award.
What are the key dates listed for the solicitation?
The opportunity lists a creation date of January 28, 2020, and an original application closing date of March 31, 2020.
When were applications due?
Applications were due by 7:59 p.m. EDT on March 31, 2020.
What happens if an application is submitted after the deadline?
The solicitation states that applications submitted after the deadline were not to be considered.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is cataloged under CFDA number 16.710.
What activity category does this program fall under?
The opportunity falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with clarification referenced in an additional eligibility section of the solicitation materials. Applicants would need to confirm eligible entity types and any topic-area-specific restrictions by consulting the application guide.
Do eligibility rules differ by topic area?
The information provided notes that there may be topic-area-specific restrictions, and that eligibility details are clarified in an additional eligibility section of the solicitation materials and the application guide.
What should a strong proposal include, based on the solicitation description?
The solicitation highlights the importance of proposals having clear goals, well-defined activities, realistic timelines, and measurable outcomes directly tied to improving officer mental health and wellness and increasing peer support adoption.
Does LEMHWA 2020 fund work that can be shared with other agencies?
Yes. The program emphasizes efforts that can be shared, replicated, and scaled across agencies.
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