The Trump Administration’s recently released FY 2026 “skinny budget” has sent shockwaves through the substance use prevention and public health communities. With proposed deep cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local coalitions, public health departments, and educators need to understand what this means — and how they can prepare.
In this post, we’ll break down:
What’s in the budget proposal
Which prevention programs are on the chopping block
Where and how you can still apply for opioid response and prevention grants
What public health leaders should watch for in the months ahead
What’s in the FY 2026 Budget Proposal?
The FY 2026 skinny budget proposes:
Over $1 billion in cuts to SAMHSA
Over $3.5 billion in cuts to the CDC
Elimination or consolidation of key prevention programs the administration deems “too small to have national impact” or duplicative
Programs at risk include:
Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP Act) grants
Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) grants
Tribal Behavioral Health Grants
Minority AIDS and Federal Drug-Free Workforce programs
CDC’s Excessive Alcohol Use, Smoking, and Chronic Disease Prevention programs
While the skinny budget is just an opening proposal, it sends a clear signal: prevention programs are under threat.
Congress Has the Final Say
It’s crucial to remember: Congress controls the purse strings. The President’s budget serves as a blueprint, but lawmakers can (and often do) adjust, reject, or restore funding levels during the appropriations process.
Advocacy organizations like CADCA, NASADAD, and the National Prevention Network will be key players in influencing this process. Public health advocates should stay tuned for legislative alerts and updates as negotiations unfold.
Where and How to Apply for Prevention and Opioid Grants
Even as federal budget debates continue, several major funding streams remain available:
State Opioid Response (SOR) Grants
Who can apply? State agencies (Single State Agencies for substance abuse)
What they fund: Opioid and stimulant prevention, treatment, recovery services
How to access: Local organizations should contact their state agencies to learn about sub-grant opportunities. States apply directly to SAMHSA via Grants.gov.
Where to learn more: SAMHSA SOR Grants Overview
SUPTRS Block Grant (formerly SAPT Block Grant)
Who can apply? State agencies receive funding; local coalitions access funds through state-managed sub-grants
What they fund: Broad substance use prevention, treatment, recovery programs
Key detail: States must spend at least 20% on primary prevention
Where to learn more: SAMHSA Block Grant Overview
If you are a local coalition, community provider, or educator, get familiar with your state’s funding process and build relationships with the officials managing these grants.
Strategies for Public Health Leaders
Here’s how you can prepare:
Document your program impacts now. Gather data, success stories, and testimonials showing why your work matters. These will be essential if advocacy efforts ramp up.
Stay informed. Follow updates from national prevention organizations, your state agencies, and congressional committees overseeing HHS appropriations.
Prepare for funding shifts. Begin identifying alternative funding sources (state, local, philanthropic) and consider how your coalition or program can adapt if federal discretionary grants shrink.
Collaborate regionally. Strength in numbers! Work with neighboring coalitions, public health departments, and educational institutions to share resources and advocate for shared priorities.
What to Watch For Next
Release of the detailed FY 2026 budget justification (expected later this month)
Congressional budget hearings and negotiations (summer/fall)
National advocacy campaigns and alerts
State-level planning for federal funds and opioid settlement resources
We will continue to monitor and report on these developments.
Join the Conversation
How are you preparing for potential budget cuts? What prevention priorities matter most in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with us on LinkedIn to keep this important dialogue going.
Together, we can navigate these uncertain times and continue building healthier, drug-free communities.
Planning a health event and wondering how to maximize health fair foot traffic? You’re not alone. Every hospital, clinic, and community group hosting a health fair wants the same thing: a vibrant, well-attended event that leaves a lasting impact.
Below, we reveal 10 proven strategies that top hospitals and event organizers use to maximize health fair foot traffic — with real-world examples you can apply immediately.
1. Partner with Community Organizations
✔️ Example: Texas Children’s Hospital Health Fair Partnership — they partner with churches and schools to co-promote events.
How to Do It:
Make a list of churches, YMCAs, community centers, and local nonprofits within 5 miles of your event. Email or call them offering co-branded flyers and social media shout-outs if they promote your fair.
2. Create a Social Media Countdown
✔️ Example: Johns Hopkins Medicine events page — they build anticipation for events weeks out with regular posts.
How to Do It:
Start a 14-day countdown on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Mix educational facts (“Did you know February is Heart Health Month?”) with event reminders.
3. Incentivize Participation with a Passport Game
✔️ Example: Houston Health Passport Challenge — encourages visitors to hit booths for prizes.
How to Do It:
Create a simple “passport” with your booth map. Each booth gives a stamp; attendees who visit 5+ booths get entered for a prize drawing.
4. Use High-Impact Visuals (Like Inflatables!)
✔️ Example: Medical Inflatables in action at the Texas Heart Institute Health Fair — giant hearts create buzz and foot traffic.
How to Do It:
Set up your inflatable where people cannot miss it: parking lots, main intersections, or entryways. Tie signage and photo ops to it.
5. Invest in Targeted Ads
✔️ Example: Ascension Health runs geo-targeted Facebook ads to drive event attendance.
How to Do It:
Spend $50–$200 to boost your event post targeting local zip codes, adults 25–65+, with an interest in health or fitness.
6. Feature Local Influencers
✔️ Example: Baylor College of Medicine’s partnership with Houston Astros mascots at health events — celebrity tie-ins increase reach.
How to Do It:
Invite popular radio hosts, local authors, or sports mascots to make appearances or help promote your event.
7. Offer Health Screenings
✔️ Example: Cleveland Clinic Community Events — free screenings bring people in.
How to Do It:
Coordinate with hospital departments or local clinics to offer blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and BMI checks.
8. Enable Easy Online RSVP
✔️ Example: Eventbrite health fair examples — free, mobile-friendly event pages.
How to Do It:
Create a simple Eventbrite page where attendees can register (even if free). Send reminders 1 week, 3 days, and 1 day before the event.
9. Make It a Festival Atmosphere
✔️ Example: National Night Out community events combine health fairs with food trucks, games, and fun zones.
How to Do It:
Book 1–2 food trucks, a bounce house, and a kid-friendly activity like face painting to extend family attendance.
10. Align with a Health Awareness Month
✔️ Example: American Heart Month Resources — February heart campaigns get natural momentum.
How to Do It:
Pick a national health month that matches your inflatable exhibit (heart, lung, brain health) for natural marketing boosts.
With the rise in youth opioid exposure, schools and prevention coalitions need more than outdated scare tactics. The Neuroscience of Addiction Program, developed with Florida Atlantic University’s Mind ASCEND neuroscientists, is a new solution that uses visual and experiential learning to explain how drugs affect the adolescent brain.
This immersive experience features a life-size inflatable brain exhibit, allowing middle schoolers to physically walk through brain regions impacted by substances like fentanyl and opioids. This hands-on approach makes complex neuroscience both understandable and unforgettable.
Designed for DFC (Drug-Free Communities) and opioid education grant recipients, the program is evidence-based and curriculum-aligned. It’s ideal for supplementing tools like Operation Prevention or enhancing outreach supported by CDC drug education resources.
Educators see immediate benefits:
- Students engage deeper with content
- Lessons are retained longer
- Discussions shift from fear to understanding
Unlike traditional presentations, this program activates the senses, combining powerful visuals with science-backed facts to foster smarter choices among youth.