Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information Related to Behavioral Health

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, under the Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting the establishment of a National Center of Excellence focused on behavioral health data privacy. This initiative aims to develop and distribute comprehensive training, technical assistance, and educational materials to healthcare practitioners, families, individuals, states, and communities on federal privacy statutes and regulations governing protected health information in behavioral health contexts. The Center will serve as a central resource to enhance understanding and compliance across the healthcare ecosystem with a particular emphasis on the unique challenges surrounding behavioral health data confidentiality. Contact for this opportunity is Belinda Greenfield, available via email at belinda.greenfield@samhsa.hhs.gov or by phone at 240-276-2545. The forecast was posted on March 20, 2026, and though no solicitation number or set-aside details are currently available, the project will operate under the agency’s broader mission to support behavioral health through informed, privacy-conscious practices. The place of performance and specific organizational requirements have not yet been defined, but the initiative is expected to engage national stakeholders in building standards and capacity around federal privacy laws as they apply to behavioral health data.