---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 1665j"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "1665j"
heading: "Behavioral health program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/1665j"
units:
  - "Chapter 18 — Indian Health Care"
  - "Subchapter V–A — Behavioral Health Programs"
  - "Part A — General Programs"
---

# §1665j. Behavioral health program

- (a) **Innovative programs—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17), acting through the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18), consistent with [section 1665a of this title](/usc/25/1665a.md), may plan, develop, implement, and carry out programs to deliver innovative community-based [behavioral health](/usc/25/1603.md?p=2-A) [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) to [Indians](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13).
- (b) **Awards; criteria—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) may award a grant for a project under [subsection (a)](#a) to an [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or [tribal organization](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26) and may consider the following criteria:
  - (1) The project will address significant unmet [behavioral health](/usc/25/1603.md?p=2-A) needs among [Indians](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13).
  - (2) The project will serve a significant number of [Indians](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13).
  - (3) The project has the potential to deliver [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) in an efficient and effective manner.
  - (4) The [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or [tribal organization](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26) has the administrative and financial capability to administer the project.
  - (5) The project may deliver [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) in a manner consistent with traditional health care practices.
  - (6) The project is coordinated with, and avoids duplication of, existing [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18).
- (c) **Equitable treatment—** For purposes of this subsection,[^1] the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall, in evaluating project applications or proposals, use the same criteria that the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) uses in evaluating any other application or proposal for such funding.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “section,”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–437, title VII, § 711, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10221(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 935.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section 711 of Pub. L. 94–437 is based on section 181 of title I of S. 1790, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, as reported by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate in Dec. 2009, which was enacted into law by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1665j, Pub. L. 94–437, title VII, § 711, as added Pub. L. 102–573, title VII, § 702(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4580; amended Pub. L. 104–313, § 2(f), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3822; Pub. L. 105–244, title IX, § 901(d), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1828; Pub. L. 105–256, § 13(a), Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1900; Pub. L. 110–315, title IX, § 941(k)(2)(I)(iii), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3467, authorized substance abuse counselor education demonstration projects, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 111–148.