School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program

Program Description

The purpose of the SBMH grant program is to provide competitive grants to State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and consortia of LEAs to increase the number of credentialed mental health services providers providing school-based mental health services to students in LEAs with demonstrated need.

Timeline

Application closes on October 29, 2025.

Federal Register Notice

Please review the information in the Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 2025 School-Based Mental Health Grant program (SBMH) (September 29, 2025).

The Department of Education has also announced final priorities, requirements, and definitions under the SBMH program. Please visit the Legislation, Regulations, and Guidance tab on this web page for additional information.

Application Instructions

• Please review the information in the FY 2025 Application Instructions.
• Do not rely solely on the information in the Application Instructions for guidance. 
• Please refer to the NIA and the program regulations published in the Federal Register for additional information, as these are the official documents governing the competition.
• Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov.

SBMH Technical Assistance Webinar Recording 

Applicants who have questions about the application process and grant procedures can view a recorded technical assistance webinar and accompanying slides.

SBMH Program Contact

Amy Banks
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW.
Washington, DC 20202-6450
Telephone: (202) 987-1780
E-mail: amy.banks@ed.gov 

Call for Peer Reviewers

Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Grant Competitions

For information on applying to be a competition peer reviewer, please see the Call for Peer Reviewers Solicitation.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

New Awards

FY 2024 Project Abstracts

State of West Virginia (WV) $3,029,518: 

The project, titled “WV Mental Health Professionals IMPACT Initiative (IMPACT)”, aims to increase the number of school-based mental health providers in West Virginia. The goal is to promote the positive emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing of K-12 students. Expected Project Outcomes: The project seeks to achieve the following outcomes: Hire and retain 48 new school-based mental health providers. Improve the student-to-provider ratio in high-need Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Serve at least 16,000 students. Address competitive preference priorities related to diversity and re-specialization. Population to be Served: K-12 students in WV, particularly those in high-need counties. Primary Project Activities: The primary project activities include targeted recruitment, mentoring, professional development, and collaboration with partners. Number of LEAs to be Served: The project will serve 24 LEAs in West Virginia. Number of Students to be Served: The project aims to serve at least 16,000 students. Number of Providers to be Hired: 48 providers will be hired. Competitive Preference Priorities Addressed by the Project: Re-specialization and increasing diversity among providers will be achieved through targeted recruitment, training, and financial support, which will help improve the workforce capacity of high-need LEAs to meet the mental health needs of K-12 students.

Fulton County Board of Education (GA) $470,223: 

Fulton County Schools (FCS), located in metro Atlanta, Georgia, serves over 88,000 students. FCS’ high student to school psychologist ratio, high percentage of students living in poverty, and increased discipline referrals underscore the district’s need to improve SBMH services. To address these challenges, FCS will launch Project PROSPERS: Prioritizing the Recruitment, retention Of School Psychologists to Expand mental health Resources to Students. Project PROSPERS’ goals include building a diverse school psychologist pipeline, recruiting qualified candidates to our district, and retaining incumbent school psychologists. With funding from the SBMH Services Grant, the district will hire six school psychologists to achieve the ratio of 1,745 students per school psychologist. We project that FCS school psychologists will provide 2,117 direct student interventions by Year 5 of the grant. Additionally, the grant will fund a strategic outreach plan, professional development opportunities, strategic job redesign and enrichment, and implementation of culturally responsive practices. Applying under Competitive Preference Priority 2, the district will assign 14 school psychologists with diverse backgrounds to priority schools. Further, FCS will foster relationships with key partners (Georgia State University, University of Georgia, and NORC at the University of Chicago) to help achieve grant goals. Project PROSPERS will track four project objectives to guide our success: 1) reduce student-to-school psychologist ratio, 2) provide incentives to retain highly qualified school psychologists, 3) implement a targeted outreach and recruitment plan to increase access to school psychologists who are representative of the student population, and 4) increase the capacity of school psychologists to provide a continuum of multi-tiered equitable, culturally responsive services.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WI) $2,000,000: 

The realities of Wisconsin schools reflect those of the nation as evidenced by high student to school based mental health professional (SBMHP) ratios, lack of diversity in these positions, and increasing mental health needs of students to be served. The implementation of the 2020 Wisconsin School Based Mental Health (SBMH) Services Grant Program has been successful in starting to reduce student SBMHP ratios and increasing diversity in selected high need local education agencies (LEAs). The 2024 WI SBMH Services Grant Program proposal is a comprehensive statewide approach to achieve the grant goals of increasing the recruitment, retention, and diversity of SBMHPs in a minimum of ten additional selected high need LEAs. By September 30, 2029, a minimum of 25 individuals in aggregate across all selected LEAs will be enrolled or complete an online certification program to become a licensed SBMHPs. Selected LEAs will increase SBMHPs that are representative of the student population by at least five percent including at least five of these SBMHPs identifying as Indigenous. By the completion of the 2028-2029 academic year, the proportion of SBMHP who stay for three complete years will increase by ten percent over baseline. The expansion of this project seeks to infuse innovation and progressive practices, expand on the attraction of SBMHPs, increase support for SBMHP, and remove barriers as outlined in our specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound (SMART) objectives. Project priorities will be achieved through a multi-faceted approach, which includes extending SBMHP online certification pathways beginning in high school through post-graduate programming (competitive preference priority 1), developing a “Grow Your Own” process to attract diverse SBMHP candidates (competitive preference priority 2), and expanding service delivery models, such as teleservice to increase access to SBMHP. The successful implementation of this project will involve stakeholder collaboration at the federal, state, local, and school levels in partnership with WDPI to inform and enhance efforts to increase SBMHP mental health support and decrease disparities for students throughout Wisconsin.

Syracuse City School District (NY) $934,197: 

The Syracuse City School District (SCSD) and the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University (UMU) Psychiatry Department are partnering to increase the number of credentialed SBMH services providers who are from diverse backgrounds and/or from the SCSD community (Competitive Preference Priority #2). This project will take a two-pronged approach (goals and activities): 1. opening two central and as many as nine SBMH clinics staffed with UMU licensed providers who will provide services to SCSD students, and 2. creating a pipeline to certification for diverse graduate and post-doctoral clinical fellows and internal SCSD candidates who will learn and serve in the SCSD clinics. At least 14 new clinical staff (psychiatrists, psychologists, LCSWs, NPs) will provide an array of therapeutic services, including individual, group, and family therapy and medication management through in-person and telehealth visits. The clinics will also provide developmental evaluations and diagnostic testing to ensure student interventions are appropriately targeted. Anticipated student outcomes include: accurate diagnoses and appropriate interventions, rapid access to necessary therapies, access to diverse providers who are representative of the student body and lasting improvements in mental health, well-being, and academic goals. The project will fill gaps in services for students that two other contracted mental health companies have been unable to execute, relieving stress on the community mental health system by providing for youth needs separately and effectively. The community-at-large will also benefit by the increased number of diverse mental health providers who will be recruited and trained through the program. Ultimately, the variety of services to be offered will be accessible to all of the nearly 20,000 students in the SCSD and at least 5 new diverse providers will be licensed.

Campbell County Public Schools (VA) $346,689: 

Total Number of students served by the project: estimated 10,500 over 5 years. Number of providers to be hired: 8. Project Objectives/Activities: CCPS plans to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health providers within our LEA, each zone demonstrating need, with the addition of 8 new mental health providers (MHPs), added to the 16 MHPs from the existing SBMH grant award. CCPS will partner with a local nonprofit organization, Harvest Outreach Center, who will recruit and retain MHP using evidenced-based strategies of employee engagement and retention. MHPs will collaborate with existing school employed mental health providers to deliver a quality continuum of mental health services to all CCPS students. Proposed Project Outcomes: Key outcomes for students include greater student mental health and well-being, increased mental health services to students in underrepresented groups, and an overall increase in positive classroom behaviors. School outcomes include increased mental health awareness, heightened cultural competency, reduction of race, culture, and identity-diverse disparity, future sustainability of mental health programming, and high retention rates of credentialed school based mental health providers in all CCPS schools.

Rapid City Area Schools (SD) $661,600: 

The Rapid City Area Schools' Comprehensive Mental Health Enhancement Initiative aims to significantly expand and enhance our capacity to deliver effective, culturally responsive mental health services. This initiative, targeting approximately 6,512 middle and high school students, will address the heightened mental health needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, cultural determinants of mental health, and adverse childhood experiences. By recruiting one Board Certified Behavioral Analyst, three Middle School Counselors, and three High School Social Workers, the project seeks to improve the student-to-certified mental health provider ratio from 434:1 to 361:1. In addition, the hiring of School Based Counselors will address our dire need to better service our students by improving our current ratio of student-to school based counselors from 283:1 to 217:1, to align with American School Counselor Associate (ASCA) recommendations. The primary activities of the initiative include hiring culturally diverse credentialed school-based mental health professional staff, providing professional development in diversity and inclusion, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, developing community and parental engagement through workshops, and conducting regular student workshops on mental health awareness. Additional expected quantitative outcomes include a 25% increase in offered mental health service sessions, a 15% reduction in absenteeism related to our Native Americans students, a 25% decrease in survey reported depression and anxiety, and a 30% increase in mental health service access, among others. This project aligns with Absolute Priority 1 and 3 and Competitive Preference Priority 2 of the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) Grant Program by increasing the number of qualified mental health providers, prioritizing the recruitment of diverse professionals through initiative within our new grantee application, and employing providers from within the local community to enhance service and cultural competency.

County of Cochise (AZ) $353,789: 

Cochise Educational Service Agency (CochisESA) Mental Health Consortium seeks to address Absolute Priority 2 and 3, Competitive Preference Priority 2 in the School Based Mental Health Services grant program. In Cochise County, Arizona, the prevalence of mental health issues among students is alarmingly high. Spanning 6,219 square miles—an area comparable to the combined size of Rhode Island and Connecticut—Cochise County presents unique challenges due to its diverse composition, encompassing rural agricultural areas, border cities, and a military base. With only twelve providers for thirty-eight schools and 9,656 students, staffing levels are insufficient, leading to many students silently suffering. Our goal is to reduce the student-to-provider ratio from 804:1 to 459:1 within five years by hiring nine school-based mental health (SBMH) providers. These providers will offer services to any school in need of onsite support in Cochise County. Funding from the grant will enable us to expand and enrich our existing mental health services within schools, building stronger partnerships among educational institutions, the community college, mental health agencies, and other local organizations. The innovative collaboration between our consortium and the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Community Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) Team, along with the Health Department and Cochise College, will strengthen our response to COVID-19 challenges and ongoing student mental health needs. Our comprehensive services will include on-site emotional support, screenings, crisis response, assistance for exceptional students, workshops, presentations, and community engagement. We're dedicated not only to delivering these services but also to attracting and retaining top talent with competitive salaries, professional development, and supportive supervision to build resilience among our staff. Let's embark on this journey together, hand in hand, heart to heart, creating a brighter future for generations ahead to come.

Independent School District 29 - Norman Public Schools (OK) $1,192,874: 

As a single member LEA, Norman Public Schools, in partnership with the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and our 12 community partners seek to implement Project REACH (Recruitment, Education And Certification for mental Health professionals) to further expand the district school-based mental health infrastructure under Absolute Priorities 2 and 3 and Competitive Preference Priority 2 by: recruiting and hiring additional licensed mental health professionals or candidates under supervision; providing recertification training in mental health awareness and school-based therapeutic modalities for existing faculty, school counselors and licensed mental health professionals; expanding our SMHP program; providing educator wellness resources; implementing an early identification screener; and increasing fiscal and programmatic supports for school counselors and LMHPs. Norman Public Schools currently employs 46 school counselors, 15 school psychologists, 3 LMHPs, 20 SMHPs and 1 recreational therapist. NPS will be able to increase their mental health provider workforce by hiring an additional 8 licensed mental health professionals, recertifying 10 certified staff as school counselors or LMHPs, and recertifying a minimum of 1,310 certified staff as Youth Mental Health First Aiders (YMHFA) and 16 certified staff as Trainers of Trainers in YMHFA. By the end of the project, NPS will have on staff 46 school counselors, 15 school psychologists, 11 LMHPS, 18 trainers of trainers in YMHFA, 30 SMHPs and a minimum of 1,310 certified Youth Mental Health First Aiders to serve 15,447 students across 24 sites and will have recertified 10 staff as school counselors or LMHPs to enter the broader workforce. By September 30, 2029, the number of youth experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress will have decreased by 20%, from 59.2% to 39.2%.

Mott Haven Academy Charter School (NY) $366,500: 

Mott Haven Academy Charter School (Haven Academy or Haven) seeks federal funding ($1,966,209) to implement a five-year School-Based Mental Health Services project that will empower Haven to deepen its investments in its supportive learning environment and meet the evolving needs of its student population. Haven, an LEA with demonstrated need, serves 468 K-8 scholars, 36 Pre-K students and 400 alumni students in a trauma-sensitive educational environment that addresses and reduces barriers to academic success. The school, located in the Mott Haven community within District 7 in New York City, is the first and most advanced school in the nation specifically designed for children in foster care and the child welfare system. Over the grant term, Haven Academy, a new potential grantee (Absolute Priority 4), will address Absolute Priority 2—LEAs with Demonstrated Need, Proposing to Increase the Number of Credentialed School-Based Mental Health Services Providers. Grant funds will supplement recruitment and retention-related activities to increase (+4.5 FTE) the number of credentialed SBMH service providers, particularly providers who are from diverse backgrounds and are culturally and linguistically reflective of the student population. Grant funds will also promote re-specialization or retraining to support eligible staff in obtaining a NYS credential as a school-based mental health service provider and supplement our ability to build a pipeline of credentialed staff. These staff will supplement efforts to implement our Harm Prevention Project (HPP) initiative with fidelity and consistency. The proposed project will promote culturally sustaining and asset-based mental health services focusing on harm reduction and suicide prevention. HPP has been developed in direct response to the magnitude of student need since the pandemic and the rapidly accelerating trend of self-harm and suicide. With an increase in the number of credentialed SBMH providers, Haven will dismantle systemic barriers, comprehensively address each student’s needs to ensure all students have equitable access to comprehensive on-site support services and are positioned for long-term success.

Santa Maria Bonita School District (CA) $1,850,000: 

Goals: (1) Hire 16 new mental health counselors to serve in the Consortium school districts; (2) Retain 90% of all filled positions throughout the grant period. (3) improve the ratio of school-based MHSPs to students from the present 1:749 to 1:611 ; (4) maintain average attrition rate at 10% or lower at each district throughout the grant period, (5) serve 2,800 students as a result of this grant; and (6) increase the diversity of mental health counselors from the baseline of 16 providers who are Hispanic and bilingual in English and Spanish to 24 over the course of the grant period. Outcomes: An increase in the quality and quantity of mental health services for students; qualified mental health professionals employed in schools; stronger connections to parent and families; improved student success; improved youth mental health; reduction in barriers to accessing MH for students from URM populations. Population served: 47,257 students in six school districts in Santa Barbara County, California. Primary Activities: Recruit and hire new mental health service professionals; orient new faculty to FSA and school districts; provide ongoing training and clinical supervision to counselors; recruit and hire to fill vacancies as they occur. Number of LEAs served: 80 schools in six school districts. Number of Students to be served: 2,800. Number of Providers to be hired: 16. CPP Addressed: #2.

Wake County Public School System (NC) $2,334,976: 

Goals and expected project outcomes: Create and fill 27 school based mental health positions (24 clinical therapists and three mental health crisis response staff) with diverse candidates in order to meet the immediate and serious mental health needs of students; 2) Retain 90% of SBMH staff; 3) Increase direct SBMH services to students, resulting in improved academic, social and emotional outcomes for students receiving services; 4) Improved student to mental health staff (social workers and counselors) ratios; 5) Increased awareness and utilization of student mental health supports in schools and the community. Population to be served: Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) students. Primary project activities: Recruit and retain school based mental health service providers; Provide intensive mental health services and tele-therapy; Expand the number of clinically licensed Social Workers and Counselors employed by WCPSS and working in schools; Increase staff to student ratios; Raise awareness and increase utilization of mental health supports. Number of LEAs to be served: 1. Number of students to be served: Approximately 159,000. Number of providers to be hired: 24 clinically certified mental health therapists and three mental health crisis response staff. Absolute and competitive preference priorities addressed by the project: Mental Health Matters addresses Absolute Priority 2, LEAs with demonstrated need proposing to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health service providers and Absolute Priority 3, applications from new potential grantees. WCPSS will also address Competitive Preference Priority 2, increasing the number of credentialed school-based mental health services providers in LEAs with demonstrated need who are from diverse backgrounds or communities served by the LEAs with demonstrated need.

Florence County School District (SC) $609,236: 

Florence County School District 3 (FSD3) in South Carolina is applying for the School-Based Mental Health Program grant to address the critical mental health needs of its diverse student population. The project aims to expand access to evidence-based mental health services, improve student outcomes, and ensure the sustainability of the program. FSD3 will partner with reputable staffing agencies to recruit highly qualified mental health professionals, including a project director, 1.5 mental health counselors, and 6 social emotional assistants. The project will serve all eight schools in the district - one early childhood, four elementary, and three secondary schools - reaching a total of 3,475 students. The primary project activities include providing mental health screening and assessment, individual counseling, group therapy, and family support services. The district will also offer ongoing professional development and training for school staff on topics such as trauma-informed practices and crisis intervention. FSD3 will collaborate with community partners to provide comprehensive, wraparound services that address students' needs. Expected project outcomes include a 50% reduction in absenteeism and suspensions among students receiving mental health services, improved academic performance and engagement, and enhanced social-emotional competencies. The project will also work to reduce stigma, promote help-seeking behaviors, and normalize conversations about mental health. FSD3 is committed to ensuring equal access and treatment for all participants, particularly those from underrepresented groups. FSD3 is addressing the competitive preference priority 2 - increasing the number of credentialed school-based mental health services providers in LEAs with demonstrated need, who are from diverse backgrounds or from communities served by the LEA.

Department of Education New Hampshire (NH) $2,613,706: 

This proposed project, “Integrating School Mental Health in New Hampshire through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Behavioral Health (MTSS-B) Model,” led by the Office of Social & Emotional Wellness at the New Hampshire Department of Education, will address the critical need for increased access to school-based mental health services for New Hampshire's students. Six Local Education Agencies (LEAs) across the state have been selected for participation: Berlin School District, Claremont School District, Newport School District, Jaffrey-Rindge School District, Manchester School District, and Newmarket School District. These LEAs collectively serve 17,680 students, representing approximately 10% of the state's total student population. The project will employ three main strategies: 1) Increase the number of credentialed mental health providers in each participating LEA by hiring six clinical School Liaisons to serve as a bridge between community mental health resources and schools; 2) Enhance and expand the, use of NH’s MTSS-B model within LEAs to improve access to and delivery of mental health supports and services; and 3) Increase the mental health workforce through a partnership with the University of New Hampshire’s School Mental Health Graduate Certificate program to recruit and train professionals from diverse backgrounds to serve in high-need communities. The first and third strategies directly address Competitive Preference Priorities 1 and 2. Key partnerships with community mental health agencies and academic institutions will ensure achievement and sustainability of the project’s objectives by increasing access to mental health services, improving implementation fidelity to the MTSS-B model, and building a diverse and sustainable workforce. Through a systems-change approach to school mental health integration, this project seeks to break cycles of poverty and trauma, promote positive school and life outcomes, and address the urgent mental health needs of New Hampshire's students.

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GA) $2,453,647: 

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) seeks to implement the ‘Gwinnett’s Resilience and Outreach for Wellness (GROW)’ Project to provide K-12 students in the district with the social and emotional supports needed for them to be successful in college and career. This application for a School-Based Mental Health grant addresses the Absolute Priority 2, LEAs with Demonstrated Need Proposing to Increase the Number of Credentialed School-Based Mental Health Services Providers by providing a detailed plan to hire 15 additional social workers and 10 contracted mental health therapists in our highest need schools, supplemented by 25 paid internships with service scholarships to create a pipeline to fill anticipated vacancies in future years. This application also addresses Absolute Priority 3 for new potential grantees who have not previously benefited from a SBMH grant. Population Served: GCPS is a Local Education Agency (LEA) located in Gwinnett County, GA and serves 182,214 students across 142 schools as of 2024. GCPS is a diverse school district with families from 183 different countries who speak 105 different primary home languages with Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese as the most common non-English languages spoken. Among GCPS students, 35% are Hispanic, 32% are Black, 16% are White, 12% are Asian, and 4% are Multiracial. Additionally, 65% of students are eligible for free/reduced price lunch and over 25% are learning English as a second language. Primary Project Activities and Outcomes: Project activities will include hiring new social workers to reduce ratios, adding mental health therapists as contractors to support students in need of more intensive mental health counseling and recruitment/retention bonuses and professional development for GCPS social workers and counselors to reduce turnover, particularly in our high-need schools. The project addresses Competitive Priority 2 (CPP2) by proposing efforts to increase the number of mental health service providers who are from diverse backgrounds and/or from communities serviced by GCPS. Newly hired social workers and therapists will reflect the diversity of the Gwinnett community, with preference given to Gwinnett residents. Further, to build a diverse pipeline of social workers and counselors to fill future vacancies, university interns from minority-serving institutions, including Clark Atlanta University, an HBCU, will be placed in GCPS schools and receive service scholarships and extensive mentoring support throughout their internship and first year in their new role. Key outcomes include reducing student to social worker ratios in high need schools, increasing availability of more intensive mental health support, reducing the turnover rate among school-based mental health service providers, and increasing the diversity of service providers to better reflect the diversity of our community.

Birmingham City Schools (AL) $2,998,164:

BCS-SBMH will serve 21,238 students in 43 BCS schools. The student population is 95% African American with 87% economically-disadvantaged. BCS-SBMH addresses Competitive Preference Priority 2. Birmingham has a city poverty rate of 26.1% – about double the US rate. The child poverty rate in Birmingham is 38% compared to a national rate of 16.3%. Community violence far exceeds the average American city. BCS schools have a high mental health provider-to-student ratio. To decrease the ratio, BCS-SMBH will hire 22 FTE mental health providers and contract for another 3 FTE therapists resulting in a 25% increase in mental health staff. The project will recruit and retain mental health providers from diverse backgrounds. All hires and contractors will have credentials to deliver services in Alabama elementary and secondary schools. BCS-SBMH’s goal is: Increase and maintain the number of state credentialed school-based mental health service providers in BCS. The five objectives of the project are: (1): Increase and maintain State credentialed mental health service professionals working with BCS students; (2) Increase students receiving school-based mental health services; (3) Increase diverse State credentialed school mental health professionals working with BCS students; (4) Decrease violent, aggressive, and disruptive behavior in schools; and (5) Increase student school engagement. Project activities include: 1) hire or contract 25 mental health providers; 2) support mental health provider’s professional growth through state and national conference participation as appropriate to their role in the BCS-SBMH project, 3) recruit and retain mental health service provider staff through paying tuition and fees for further education, guaranteed pay raises, retention bonuses, stipends for maintaining and achieving certifications or additional degrees.

Muscogee County School District (GA) $1,997,651:

The project aims to provide vital mental health services to all 30,000 students across Muscogee County, Georgia, where 57% identify as African American. Addressing Competitive Priority 2, it responds to the urgent need highlighted by a 29% child poverty rate. Currently, MCSD faces high social worker and psychologist to student ratios, significantly exceeding national recommendations. To tackle this challenge, MCSD-SBMH proposes recruiting 11 FTE social workers and 2 FTE psychologists, prioritizing diversity in recruitment and retention efforts. MCSD-SBMH has five primary objectives: Increase and maintain the presence of State-credentialed mental health service professionals, Expand the number of students receiving school-based mental health services, enhance diversity among State-credentialed school mental health service professionals, reduce incidents of violent, aggressive, and disruptive behavior within schools, foster increased student engagement with school activities and initiatives. To achieve these goals, the project plans to recruit 11 FTE social workers and 2 FTE psychologists, support professional growth through conferences and credential maintenance, implement recruitment and retention strategies such as restorative justice training and stipends, offer tele-mental health services, and establish mechanisms for continuous improvement.

Colton Joint Unified School District (CA) $399,473:

The primary goal of this project is to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health providers by 5 over the next two years to address the urgent mental health needs of CJUSD's diverse student population. The project aims to establish 4 new Wellness Center Associate positions to expand the Wellness Center model to all middle schools. Additionally, the project seeks to hire 1 full-time, licensed Clinical Therapists in the 2026-27 school year and beyond. Expected outcomes include improved student mental health and well-being, as evidenced by increased access to services, reduced chronic absenteeism and suspension rates, improved academic performance, and higher graduation rates. The project also aims to enhance the cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed nature of mental health services to better serve the district's diverse student population. The project will serve CJUSD's diverse student population, which includes a high proportion of socioeconomically disadvantaged students, English Language Learners (19.3%), LGBTQ+ youth, students with disabilities, and those in foster care. The primary project activities include expanding the Wellness Center model to all district middle schools, hiring additional licensed Clinical Therapists, providing professional development and training for staff on culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices, implementing evidence-based interventions (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness), collaborating with community partners, and engaging families in mental health support. The project will serve one LEA and 20,550 students in need of mental health support with a particular focus on the district's most vulnerable populations. The project is requesting competitive preference priority points for increasing the number of credentialed school-based mental health services providers in an LEA with demonstrated need.

Bibb County School District (GA) $2,569,674.00:

Goal: Increase and maintain the number of state-credentialed mental health service providers in the target LEA, Bibb County School District (BCSD). Project Outcomes: Hire and retain racially and ethnically diverse credentialed mental health staff; improve staff-to-student ratios; increase the number of students receiving mental health services; hire staff from diverse backgrounds; decrease student mental health concerns. Long-term outcomes are to improve student outcomes. Population to be served: Students in Pre-K – 12th grade enrolled in the BCSD and their parents/guardians. Primary project activities: Hiring additional staff: Hiring 13 new employees; Support professional growth: Induction, training, mentorship, conference participation, and maintaining credentials; Recruitment and retention: Competitive salaries, hiring incentives, benefits package, salary increases, and supplements for retention and licensure progress. Number of LEAs to be served: One - Bibb County School District. Number of students to be served: 220/year (1% of student population). Number of providers to be hired: 11 mental health professionals.

Winnebago Public Schools District 17 (NE) $987,489:

Applicant: Winnebago Public Schools, Winnebago Nebraska. Consortium Partner: Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation Public School (Two LEAs total). Competitive Preference Priorities: 1 and 2. Project Objectives: Goal 1: Increase the number of school-based mental health service providers (MHSP) and retain them. Goal 2: Increase the number of diverse MHSPs. Goal 3: Provide evidence-based mental health supports for all students determined by their need based on a tiered MTSS framework. Goal 4: Staff is trained to use trauma-informed strategies, socio-emotional learning, screeners, and how to analyze data. Goal 5: Sustain MHM beyond federal funding. Mental Health Matters will serve 1,300 students living on the Reservations of the Winnebago and Omaha Tribes of Nebraska. Approximately 99% of students served are Native American. MHM will strive to meet its goals by implementing a multi-tiered framework that includes mental-health components along with academics. Staff will be trained on how to provide mental health supports for all students depending on the level of their need. MHM will support two Licensed Mental Health Therapists, two MTSS coaches, and two counselors on-site in the schools. Professional development and resources will ensure all students are equitably served. MHM will also identify and support six members of our local community to earn their master’s degrees and qualify as school MHSP. The proposed project will help Winnebago Public School (WPS) and Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation (UNPS) more equitably meet the mental health needs of over 1,300 K-12 grade American Indian students in rural northeast Nebraska.

Colorado Department of Education (CO) $1,500,000:

The "Strengthening School-Based Mental Health Services in Colorado: Recruitment, Retention, and Re-specialization Grant'' aims to address Colorado's critical shortage of School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) providers in state with a history of high mental health needs among its youth. The grant focuses on recruiting, retaining, and re-specializing professionals, aligning with absolute priorities 1 & 3 and competitive priorities 1 & 2 to enhance school-based mental health services in Colorado schools. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of qualified School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) providers, a reduction in turnover rates, and a higher number of qualified supervisors, all contributing to an overall positive impact on student wellbeing and academic success. Primary activities involve recruitment strategies, training for graduate SBMH supervisors, and programs to re-specialize clinical workers for school-based roles. The Colorado Department of Education will expedite licensure for new hires to ensure timely direct service for students. The grant strengthens partnerships with Institutes of Higher Education, expanding course access, and supplementing existing services while increasing providers and strengthening key partnerships. The project will survey participants to gather feedback and use implementation science to maximize the likelihood of success in achieving grant goals. Over five years, the grant aims to re-specialize 75 clinical workers per year (n = 375), retain approximately 100 culturally responsive and highly trained supervisors per year (n = 500), and recruit approximately 16 highly qualified school-based mental health professionals from out of state per year (n = 80), resulting in a total impact of 955 school-based mental health professionals. These activities will supplement current efforts, providing immediate direct service to students within 180 days and long-term support, improving services for Colorado students.

Riverside County Office of Education (CA) $3,000,000:

Population to be served: RCWC will serve high need K-12 students, with at least 87% of students who are ethnically diverse in Riverside County, CA. Of these students, at least 84% qualify for free or reduced lunch, 22% are English Learners, and over 7% are homeless or foster youth. Project Goals: 1. To increase the number of school based licensed mental health SBLMH Providers and SBMH Interns from diverse backgrounds in LEAs with demonstrated need; 2. To increase mental health services, delivery and resources for K-12 students; and 3. To increase the retention of SBLMH Providers and school based mental health (SBMH) Interns through professional development, scholarship program and other retention activities. Proposed RCWC Project Outcomes: 1- Increased number of SBLMH Providers in schools with demonstrated need, especially individuals of diverse backgrounds. (CPP2) 1- Increased number of SBLMH Providers in schools with demonstrated need, especially individuals of diverse backgrounds. (CPP2) 3- Increased recruitment and retention-related activities and incentives, and therefore decreased attrition of SBLMH Providers. (AP2) 4- Advance student health and well-being, which is connected to measures of school success, especially those from diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Primary Project Activities: RCWC includes four (4) primary objectives and activities:  Obj. 1 Grant Administration & Leadership. Obj. 2 Development of Comprehensive & Ongoing Mental Health Provider Pathway to those Working in Schools. Obj. 3 Direct Mental Health Service Delivery. Obj. 4. Professional Development/Retention Efforts. Number of LEAs to be served: Three (3) high needs LEA’s will be served in years 1 & 2. Three (3) additional high needs LEA’s will be served in years 3-5. At least six (6) high needs LEA’s will be served over the 5-year duration of the grant. Number of Students to be Served:  At least 146,800 students will receive either Tier 1, 2, and/or 3 mental health supports over a five (5) year period. Number of Providers to be Hired: At least 27 (non-duplicated) new SBLMH Providers will be hired over the life of the grant.  In addition, 58 SBMH Interns will participate in the SBLMH Provider Pathway over the life of the grant. Which Competitive Preference Priorities are Being Addressed by the Project:  AP2, AP4, & CPP2.

Oklahoma State Department of Education (OK) $1,777,945:

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), Oklahoma State University (OSU), various tribal nations, 4 school districts located in rural OK, and the Southern Oklahoma Library System is requesting funding to execute Project RESPECT-West (ReSpecialize, RePurpose, ReEducate, ReCruit, ReTrain). The participating school districts include Anadarko Public Schools, Ardmore Public Schools, Carnegie Public Schools, and Hinton Public Schools. This project will provide opportunities for teachers, community members, and clinical mental health providers to re-specialize their credentials to obtain their mental health provider certification and re-purpose their current field of study by participating in school-based mental health training to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health service providers in all 4 school districts. These districts were designated as high need based on their high free/reduced lunch rate, high special education population, high minority student population, and lack of access to mental health personnel (all above the state average). The focus will be on recruiting mental health providers and retaining these providers who continue to work in their designated school district throughout the duration of the five-year project by providing an annual retention bonus. In addition, these providers, along with classroom teachers and district administrators, will be re-educated through on-going training and support to develop school-based trauma-informed best practices through the implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) in each district.

McKinleyville Union School District (CA) $1,289,075:

Project Objectives: Goal 1: Increase the number of school-based mental health service providers (MHSP) and retain them. Goal 2: Increase the number of diverse MHSPs. Goal 3: Provide evidence-based mental health supports for all students determined by their need based on a tiered MTSS framework. Goal 4: Staff is trained to use trauma-informed strategies, socio-emotional learning, screeners, and how to analyze data. Goal 5: Sustain NH beyond federal funding. Northern Humboldt School Based Mental Health Consortium will serve 2,000 students living in northern Humboldt County. NH will strive to meet its goals by implementing a multi-tiered system of support that provides teachers and staff a framework to successfully implement Tier 1 behavioral and social-emotional supports combined with mental health service providers supporting focused Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions. We will develop a staff trained on how to provide mental health supports for all students depending on the level of their need. NH will support six Licensed Mental Health Service Provider and three MTSS coaches. Professional development and resources will ensure all students are equitably served. NH will also identify and support six members of our local community to earn their master’s degrees and qualify as school MHSP. The proposed project will help the Northern Humboldt School Based Mental Health Consortium to more equitably meet the mental health needs of over 2,000 PK-8th grade student in rural Humboldt County, CA.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2022

New Awards

Abstracts for the FY 2022 New Awards (PDF)

FY 2021

New Award

Abstract for the FY 2021 New Award (PDF)

Continuation Awards

FY 2020

New Awards

Abstracts for FY 2020 Awards (PDF)

Legislation

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7281.

Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal civil rights laws.

Regulations

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The NFP.

Notice of Final Priorities

The Department of Education announces final priorities, requirements, and definitions under the SBMH Program. We may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2025 and later years. 

These final priorities, requirements, and definitions are designed to target activities with the purpose of increasing the number of credentialed school-based mental health services providers, specifically school psychologists, in high-need local educational agencies available to provide mental health services to students.

Guidance

Notices of Non-Continuation

Please review the responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the Notices of Non-Continuation. Please contact your Federal Project Officer for grant-specific questions.