Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program: Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Mentally Ill ALN 84.129H | ED GRANTS 061725 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 061725 004

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), through the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) Program focused on the rehabilitation of individuals who are mentally ill (Assistance Listing Number 84.129H). This competition is designed to help address workforce and personnel shortages in vocational rehabilitation by funding academic training in shortage areas that the Secretary of Education has identified and published in the Federal Register. In practical terms, the program is meant to expand and strengthen the pipeline of well-prepared rehabilitation professionals who have the specialized knowledge and skills to support people with mental health disorders or illnesses as they pursue employment, independence, and community participation.

A central requirement of this program is that funded projects must use the majority of their award to directly support students through scholarships. Specifically, grantees are required to award at least 65 percent of total project funds as scholarships to students in the training program, referred to as RSA scholars. These scholarships can cover multiple forms of student support tied to the training experience, including stipends, tuition and fees, books and supplies, and student travel when it is connected to training assignments. The intent is to reduce financial barriers for trainees so more qualified individuals can enter and complete preparation programs that lead to work in the public vocational rehabilitation system and related rehabilitation settings.

Although this specific posting is for the mental illness specialization (ALN 84.129H), it sits within a broader RLTT framework that supports training for serving individuals with a range of disability conditions. The description notes that training supported by RLTT may address specialized needs related to physical disabilities, mental health disorders or illnesses, intellectual and developmental disabilities (including autism), blindness, and deafness or hard of hearing, among others. For this competition, the emphasis is on preparing professionals who understand the unique employment and rehabilitation needs of individuals living with serious mental illness and other mental health conditions, including the service approaches, coordination strategies, and rehabilitation planning competencies required to support successful vocational outcomes.

Eligible applicants include states as well as public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations. Eligibility also extends to Indian Tribes and institutions of higher education, which is consistent with the program's training focus and the role universities and nonprofit partners often play in building credentialed rehabilitation workforces. The award instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is listed as discretionary, meaning awards are made through a competitive process based on the published application notice and selection criteria.

Key funding details provided in the listing include an expected 15 awards and an award ceiling of $200,000. The opportunity number is ED GRANTS 061725 004. The original application closing date is July 17, 2025, and the posting was created on June 17, 2025. Applicants are directed to rely on the official Federal Register notice as the controlling source for all requirements and details, including eligibility nuances, required application components, priorities, performance measures, and program contact information. The notice also points applicants to the Department of Education's Common Instructions for Applicants to Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 23, 2024, 89 FR 104528) for the official addresses and procedures for obtaining and submitting applications, with a reference link provided in the announcement.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as an investment in long-term workforce development for vocational rehabilitation, with a specific emphasis on building expertise in serving individuals with mental illness. Funded projects are expected to translate federal dollars into direct student financial support and structured academic and practical training, ultimately increasing the number of trained professionals available to meet documented personnel shortages in the rehabilitation field.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program: Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Mentally Ill ALN 84.129H" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.129.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-06-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for ED GRANTS 061725 004

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