Culturally Specific SUD Grants and Technical Assistance

Overview 

The Behavioral Health Administration’s (BHA) substance use disorder (SUD) unit is developing technical assistance, trainings and toolkits to enhance access to resources and improve navigation of systems for historically underfunded, culturally specific and culturally responsive providers offering SUD services or treatment programs including prevention, harm reduction, culturally grounded, traditional healing or recovery. The program reduces barriers for community-based culturally specific and culturally responsive providers, as they navigate state funding.

This work is funded through two appropriations:

MN Session Laws 2023, Chapter 61, Article 9, Section 2, Subd. 18 (c)
MN Session Laws 2023, Chapter 61, Article 9, Section 2, Subd. 18 (d) 

Purpose

  • Reduce barriers to grant funding
  • Empower providers with the knowledge they need to successfully manage state grants and state contracts
  • Improve navigation of the grants system for culturally specific SUD providers

Audience

Culturally specific or culturally responsive providers or organizations that offer:

  • SUD care
  • Prevention 
  • Harm reduction 
  • Recovery
  • Culturally grounded practices
  • Traditional Healing

Types of Assistance Available

  • Technical Assistance
    • These training opportunities will improve culturally specific provider’s equitable access and navigation of state grants. Technical assistance may include trainings that help current or potential grantees improve their successful management of state grant awards.
  • Grants, Resources and Toolkits
    • Here you will find links to open Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for culturally specific providers. In addition, you’ll gain access to proposal writing toolkits, resources and related opportunities.
  • Culturally Specific Grant Writing Capacity-Building Training Series
    • This initiative strengthens the grant writing skills of culturally specific and culturally responsive organizations and community members providing SUD care, prevention, harm reduction, culturally grounded practices, traditional healing and recovery services. The training series will equip participants to pursue local, state, and federal grants.

Upcoming Events and Trainings

Culturally Specific Grant Writing Capacity-Building Training Series

  • Duration: August 2025 – July 2026
  • Cohort Model: Limited to 25–35 participants to allow for deeper learning and support
  • Monthly Trainings: Held every third Thursday, each session led by a subject matter expert on a targeted topic
  • Attend in-person or online
  • Writing Clinics / Office Hours: Follow-up support held monthly, focused on hands-on writing, feedback and technical assistance
  • To register, contact: consulting@villagesupporttherapy.com

Training Date (3rd Thursday)

Topic

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025

Program Orientation & Understanding the Grant Landscape

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025

Evaluating Organizational Readiness on the Grant Continuum

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

Designing High Quality Programs

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025

Understanding Basic Grant Attachments & Funder Requirements




 

Become a Community Reviewer

You can contribute to this process by becoming a culturally specific reviewer for proposals or by referring trusted community members with both SUD/recovery expertise and cultural knowledge to be reviewers. Community reviewers bring necessary expertise to inform the process but won’t be able to submit proposals themselves.

Contact Information

Please reach out to the Culturally Specific Grants Manager.