Sponsors (3)
The bill makes a targeted federal investment to grow the behavioral health workforce and expand access—particularly benefiting students and underserved communities—while imposing taxpayer costs and administrative/partnership requirements that may exclude some small or rural districts and add compliance burdens.
Mental-health and substance-use patients — especially in underserved and rural communities — are likely to see expanded access to behavioral health services over time as the bill strengthens the workforce pipeline into mental/behavioral health professions.
Students in grades 9–12 and community college students gain hands-on exposure (internships, mentorships, coursework) to mental/behavioral health careers, improving career awareness and the long-term workforce pipeline.
The bill provides predictable federal funding ($50M per year from FY2027–FY2031) to support programs and local partnerships that develop the behavioral health workforce.
Small or rural school districts and low-income communities may be excluded because applicants must form multi-party partnerships (LEA/SEA + community college + provider), a requirement that can be a barrier where nearby partners do not exist.
Taxpayers will fund $50M per year for five years, which represents a budgetary cost that could displace other priorities.
Annual reporting requirements increase administrative workload for grant recipients (schools and colleges), imposing staff time and compliance costs on those organizations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a competitive HHS grant program funding partnerships to promote mental and behavioral health careers in K–12 schools and community colleges, authorizing $50M/year for FY2027–FY2031.
Creates a new Mental and Behavioral Health Career Promotion Grant Program at HHS to fund local partnerships that build or expand career-promotion activities in K–12 schools served by local educational agencies and in public junior or community colleges. Grants (up to 5 years, renewable) support hands-on exposure such as presentations, internships/externships, job shadowing, mentorships, and formal partnerships with postsecondary or community behavioral health providers, prioritizing developmental, linguistic, and cultural appropriateness. Awards must be geographically diverse, may include technical assistance to high-need schools and colleges, and require annual recipient reporting and an HHS evaluation with yearly reports to Congress. The bill authorizes $50 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 and caps administrative spending for data/performance measurement at 10 percent of grant funds.
Official title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to establish a Mental and Behavioral Health Career Promotion Grant Program, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 5, 2026 by Becca Balint · Last progress February 5, 2026