Sponsors (4)
The bill funds a time-limited federal pilot to expand evidence-based peer mental-health supports and build school capacity—likely improving early help for students and informing future policy, but imposing federal costs, raising privacy and equity concerns, and leaving long-term support uncertain.
Secondary school students gain access to evidence-based peer mental-health support programs, improving early identification and mental-health outcomes for participating students.
Schools and local education agencies receive federal grant funding, training, and technical assistance to train students, adult supervisors, and staff to recognize and respond to student mental-health needs, strengthening local capacity and program quality.
SAMHSA must evaluate and report program effectiveness to Congress, increasing accountability and building an evidence base to identify and scale successful approaches.
Smaller or under-resourced school districts may lack capacity to apply for or administer grants, so students in those districts are less likely to benefit and disparities could widen.
Collecting student information for these programs could create privacy risks if records are mishandled or FERPA compliance is weak, exposing students' sensitive data.
Taxpayers bear the financial cost of the pilot program and associated evaluations through federal grant funding and administrative expenses.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a SAMHSA pilot grant program to fund evidence‑based peer mental‑health support activities in secondary schools, with evaluation and FERPA protections.
Official title: Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a pilot program to support evidence-based mental health peer support activities for students.
Introduced March 6, 2025 by John Wright Hickenlooper · Last progress March 6, 2025
Creates a competitive, time-limited pilot grant program run by SAMHSA (in consultation with the Department of Education) to fund evidence-based peer mental-health support activities in secondary schools. Grants may pay for implementing and operating peer support programs, including training, but must be overseen by a school-based mental-health professional and protect student education records under FERPA; SAMHSA must evaluate the pilot, report results to Congress, and share best practices. The authority expires September 30, 2029.