Sponsors (4)
The bill directs federal funds, training, technical assistance, and evaluation to pilot evidence-based peer mental-health supports in secondary schools—potentially improving student mental health and informing scale-up—but access may be uneven, privacy safeguards are required, the effort is time-limited, and it increases federal spending.
Students in secondary schools gain access to evidence-based peer mental-health support programs, improving early identification and mental-health outcomes for participating youth.
Schools and local school districts receive federal grant funding and training to build capacity to recognize and respond to student mental-health needs.
State and local program operators get technical assistance and best-practice guidance from SAMHSA and the Department of Education to implement proven peer-support models and avoid common pitfalls.
Smaller or under-resourced school districts may be unable to apply for or administer grants, so students in those districts could be left out of program benefits.
Collecting student records for program administration and evaluation creates privacy risks that require strict FERPA compliance and oversight to protect sensitive student data.
The pilot program has a statutory sunset (9/30/2029), creating uncertainty for promising programs about long-term federal support and sustainability.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a SAMHSA pilot to award grants to states, tribes, territories, and localities to support evidence-based peer mental-health programs in secondary schools with professional oversight and evaluations.
Introduced March 6, 2025 by John Wright Hickenlooper · Last progress March 6, 2025
Creates a competitive pilot program run by SAMHSA (in consultation with the Education Department) to award grants or other awards to states, territories, tribes, and local governments to support evidence-based peer mental-health support activities for students in secondary schools. Grants may fund implementation, operation, and training for peer support programs so long as activities are overseen by a school-based mental-health professional and student records remain protected under FERPA. Requires applicants to describe evaluation metrics, directs SAMHSA to evaluate program effectiveness and report results to Congress, and calls for SAMHSA and ED to provide technical assistance and share best practices. The authority is temporary and sunsets on September 30, 2029.