Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 289
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting research applications under the funding opportunity "Navigator Emergency Department Diversion Models for Non-Urgent Mental Health Concerns (R01 Clinical Trial Required)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-25-289). This is a discretionary grant mechanism in the health domain (CFDA 93.242) using the R01 activity code, and it explicitly requires a clinical trial. The overarching goal is to strengthen the evidence base for approaches that help divert individuals, especially children and families in many real-world settings, away from emergency department (ED) use when the mental health concern is non-urgent, and toward more appropriate, timely, and effective care pathways.
The focus of the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is on "family navigation" ED diversion models. These models typically involve dedicated personnel or teams (navigators) who engage families when someone presents to the ED (or is at risk of presenting) with mental health needs that do not require emergency-level intervention. NIH is looking for studies that test how effective these navigation approaches are, how well they can be implemented in routine practice, and how they can be optimized for different contexts and populations. In practice, the NOFO emphasizes three core functions the navigation models should cover: first, using triage tools to determine mental health acuity and help distinguish non-urgent concerns from higher-risk situations; second, actively facilitating engagement in appropriate mental health services and other needed supports (for example, outpatient therapy, psychiatry, mobile crisis alternatives, school-based services, community programs, or social services); and third, providing families with practical support and education about the mental health condition while also reducing barriers to help-seeking, including helping with appointments, insurance or coverage questions, transportation, follow-up, and coordination across systems.
A key theme is that this opportunity is not just about whether a program "works" in a narrow sense, but also about understanding the conditions under which it works, how it can be delivered with fidelity, and what adjustments improve outcomes. That makes implementation questions central, such as the best ways to integrate navigators into ED workflows, how triage tools are selected and used, how handoffs to community providers occur, what staffing and training are needed, and how to maintain engagement after an initial ED contact. Optimization may also include testing different components of navigation (for example, intensity of follow-up, modes of contact, culturally tailored education, or resource linkage strategies) to determine which elements drive the most benefit.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Foreign participation is restricted. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the applicant organization and the project components must be domestic, which aligns with the program emphasis on U.S. emergency department and community mental health service ecosystems.
Administratively, the opportunity was created on 2024-11-25, and the listed original closing date is 2028-01-07, indicating a multi-year window in which applications may be submitted according to NIH receipt dates and the specific NOFO instructions. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided source details, and the expected number of awards is also not listed here, which typically means applicants should consult the full NOFO and NIH budget guidance for expectations around scale, allowable costs, and any institute- or center-specific budget considerations.
Overall, this NOFO is aimed at generating rigorous, actionable research on ED diversion strategies that rely on family navigation to match individuals with the right level of mental health care, reduce unnecessary ED utilization for non-urgent issues, improve linkage and follow-through with services, and address real-world barriers families face when trying to access mental health support.Apply for PAR 25 289
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Navigator Emergency Department Diversion Models for Non-Urgent Mental Health Concerns (R01 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-01-07.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this NIH funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity titled "Navigator Emergency Department Diversion Models for Non-Urgent Mental Health Concerns (R01 Clinical Trial Required)" with Funding Opportunity Number PAR-25-289. It uses the R01 activity code and falls under CFDA 93.242.
2) What is the main goal of PAR-25-289?
The goal is to strengthen the evidence base for approaches that help divert people away from emergency department (ED) use when a mental health concern is non-urgent, and connect them to more appropriate, timely, and effective care pathways. The NOFO emphasizes real-world settings and highlights the importance of supporting children and families in particular.
3) What types of models is NIH asking applicants to study?
The NOFO focuses on family navigation ED diversion models. These models involve navigators (dedicated personnel or teams) who engage families when someone presents to the ED, or is at risk of presenting, with mental health needs that do not require emergency-level intervention.
4) Does this opportunity require a clinical trial?
Yes. The title explicitly states "Clinical Trial Required", meaning the proposed research must include a clinical trial component.
5) What are the core functions that navigation models are expected to cover?
The NOFO emphasizes three core functions:
- Triage/acuity assessment: using triage tools to determine mental health acuity and distinguish non-urgent concerns from higher-risk situations.
- Active service linkage: facilitating engagement in appropriate mental health services and other supports (for example outpatient therapy, psychiatry, mobile crisis alternatives, school-based services, community programs, or social services).
- Family support and barrier reduction: providing practical support and education and reducing barriers to help-seeking (for example help with appointments, insurance/coverage questions, transportation, follow-up, and cross-system coordination).
6) What outcomes is NIH trying to improve through these studies?
Based on the description provided, NIH is aiming for research that can reduce unnecessary ED utilization for non-urgent mental health concerns, improve linkage to appropriate services, improve follow-through/engagement in care, and address real-world barriers families face when trying to access mental health support.
7) Is the NOFO only about whether a navigation program "works"?
No. A key theme is that NIH is looking beyond narrow effectiveness and also wants evidence about implementation and optimization, including the conditions under which models work, how they can be delivered with fidelity, and what adjustments improve outcomes in different contexts and populations.
8) What implementation questions does NIH consider central to this opportunity?
The NOFO highlights implementation questions such as:
- How navigators are integrated into ED workflows
- How triage tools are selected and used
- How handoffs/referrals to community providers occur
- What staffing and training are needed
- How engagement is maintained after the initial ED contact
9) What does "optimization" mean in the context of this NOFO?
Optimization refers to testing or refining different components of navigation to see which elements produce the most benefit. Examples mentioned include varying intensity of follow-up, modes of contact, culturally tailored education, and strategies for linking families to resources.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include:
- State, county, city/township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
11) Are any additional organization types explicitly noted as eligible?
Yes. The NOFO explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.
12) Can a non-U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
13) Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. (foreign) component in the project?
No. The information provided states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply and that foreign components are not allowed (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement). The applicant organization and project components must be domestic.
14) What settings or systems is this opportunity focused on?
Based on the restrictions and emphasis described, the focus is on U.S. emergency departments and the surrounding community mental health service ecosystems that receive ED referrals or provide alternatives to ED care for non-urgent mental health needs.
15) What is the activity code and grant mechanism for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses the R01 activity code, which is an NIH research project grant mechanism.
16) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 93.242.
17) When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2024-11-25.
18) What is the listed original closing date?
The listed original closing date is 2028-01-07, suggesting a multi-year window in which applications may be submitted according to NIH receipt dates and NOFO instructions.
19) Is there an award ceiling (maximum award amount) listed?
No. The provided information states that the award ceiling is not specified in the source details shared.
20) Is the expected number of awards known from the information provided?
No. The provided information states that the expected number of awards is not listed in the details shared.
21) What types of services might navigators connect families to?
The NOFO gives examples such as outpatient therapy, psychiatry, mobile crisis alternatives, school-based services, community programs, and social services. The overall intent is to connect people to care that is more appropriate than ED use for non-urgent mental health needs.
22) What kinds of practical barriers are navigation models expected to help with?
Examples mentioned include help with appointments, insurance or coverage questions, transportation, follow-up, and coordination across systems, along with education about the mental health condition and reducing barriers to help-seeking.
23) What population is highlighted in the description?
The description emphasizes diverting individuals broadly, with particular emphasis on children and families across many real-world settings.
24) What is NIH ultimately trying to produce through this NOFO?
The NOFO is aimed at generating rigorous, actionable research on ED diversion strategies that use family navigation, including evidence on effectiveness, implementation in routine practice, fidelity, context-specific performance, and ways to optimize model components.
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