Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program

The RSAT Program assists states and local governments in developing and implementing substance use disorder treatment programs in state, local, and tribal correctional and detention facilities, and supports efforts to create and maintain community-based aftercare services for offenders.

The principle purpose of the RSAT Program is to break the cycle of drugs and violence by reducing the demand, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. Successful applicants will be funded for a three-year cycle, with the first year commencing July 1, 2021 and ending on June 30, 2022.  A non-competitive Request for Application (RFA) for continuation funding will be issued for the second year (7/1/22 - 6/20/23) and the third year (7/123 - 6/30/24). Continued funding for the second and third years is contingent on the amount and availability of federal funding and on compliance with the RSAT program requirements. Applicants shall build their proposal, objectives, activities, and budget information for the first 12 months of the grant cycle. A total of $2,000,000 in federal RSAT funding is available statewide. Adult detention facilities will be allowed to request up to a maximum of $500,000 for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 with the possibility of two additional years (see Grant Period above). Applicants are encouraged to request only the amount of funds needed to support their proposal and not base the request on the maximum allowed. A 25% match of the funds awarded to the recipient (cash or in-kind) and utilization of 5% of the total project budget for the Local Evaluation Plan and Report are required. Counties that operate adult local detention facilities are eligible to apply and receive funding for the grant period. Only one proposal per county may be submitted. A duly authorized county officer or department head responsible for the operation of the local detention facility may submit the proposal on behalf of the county.  While the intent is to receive a wide range of proposals representing California’s diverse detention facilities, only the most meritorious proposals will be funded. Departments that have already developed RSAT substance abuse treatment programs but are seeking to continue or expand upon those efforts, as well as departments considering implementing a program for the first time, are encouraged to apply. Programs previously awarded BJA RSAT funds through BSCC are eligible to apply. Applicants must be able to provide a jail-based substance use disorder treatment program that includes aftercare services. RSAT funding may be used for the in-custody component, the aftercare component or both.  The goals of the RSAT Program are to enhance the capability of states, and units of local and tribal government to provide substance use disorder treatment for incarcerated inmates; prepare offenders for their reintegration into the communities from which they came by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assist offenders and their communities through the reentry process by delivering community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services. As previously indicated, the California RSAT funding for this grant period will be used to support local jail-based programs which must include both an “in-jail” component and an “aftercare” component. Funding may be directed at either the in-custody portion of the project, the aftercare portion, or both.