Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday announced a $700 million federal investment in addiction and behavioral health services, signaling a renewed emphasis on faith-based recovery organizations as part of the Trump administration’s public health strategy.
The announcement was made during remarks at the Easterseals MORC treatment center in Clinton Township, Michigan, where Kennedy outlined funding opportunities aimed at expanding treatment access for individuals with substance use disorders and serious mental illness.
Funding Breakdown
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the investment includes a $96 million funding opportunity through the Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Support (STREETS) program. The remaining $612 million will support additional behavioral health initiatives administered by HHS.
The STREETS program is designed to award eight communities $3 million annually over four years. The funding is intended to help build coordinated care systems for people experiencing homelessness who also face substance use disorders, serious mental illness, or co-occurring conditions.
Faith-Based Role
Kennedy said a key component of the initiative is restoring eligibility for faith-based organizations to receive federal recovery funding. He criticized the previous administration for discouraging such partnerships.
“One of the features of our STREETS is opening up funding once again for faith-based organizations,” Kennedy said. “We think they’re critical.”
He argued that faith-based recovery programs play an important role in helping individuals achieve long-term sobriety and community reintegration.
Policy Differences
During his remarks, Kennedy drew a contrast between the current approach and harm reduction strategies used in recent years, including needle exchange programs and supervised injection sites. He said those policies contributed to visible drug markets in some cities.
“We know what doesn’t work,” Kennedy said. “Ignoring addiction doesn’t work. Harm reduction doesn’t work.”
Public health experts, however, point to longstanding research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse showing that needle exchange programs reduce the spread of infectious diseases without increasing crime or drug use in surrounding areas.
Personal Perspective
Kennedy, who has spoken publicly about his past heroin addiction, also discussed the role of spirituality in recovery. He referenced an account involving Rowland Hazard and Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, which later influenced the development of Alcoholics Anonymous.
He noted that while 12-step programs are not religious, they emphasize spiritual reflection and accountability, which he described as valuable tools in recovery.
Program Goals
An HHS press release said the STREETS initiative aims to support “multisector, state-of-the-art care systems” by integrating housing, treatment, and social services. Officials said the goal is to improve outcomes for individuals with complex behavioral health needs while reducing strain on emergency services and local governments.
HHS has not yet released a timeline for when applications for the new funding opportunities will open, but officials said additional guidance is expected in the coming weeks.
