Overview:
The Biden-Harris administration has announced new initiatives to increase access to school-based mental health services for students, including increased funding and additional staff training.
The Biden-Harris administration has announced new initiatives to increase access to school-based mental health services for students, including increased funding and additional staff training.
“Today’s announcements affirm the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to tackling our youth mental health crisis,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “We know students are more likely to access mental health support if it’s offered in schools. By nearly doubling funds this year for school-based mental health professionals, releasing additional funds to help advance a variety of mental health strategies, and providing additional training and resources, we are raising the bar for student wellbeing across the country.”
According to research, students are six times more likely to receive mental health services when they are delivered at school. Schools in the United States are best positioned to provide access and reach large numbers of students through education, prevention, services, and early intervention efforts, and can help to reduce stigmatization that might be associated with seeking services. One of the key initiatives of the Biden-Harris Administration has been to improve student well-being and outcomes.
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) and BSCA have a core component that students have increased access to vital services and are more likely to have a counselor, social worker, or nurse at their school than when the President took office.
In the Biden- Harris announcement, there are three additional actions that build on efforts to make mental health services more available and accessible to children and youth. Today’s actions include:
- Doubling the funding available in the current Fiscal Year for the School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) and the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) grant programs gives them additional time to apply.
- Releasing additional BSCA funding to improve students’ and educators’ mental health and wellbeing.
- Providing additional training and resources for youth mental health through Departments of Education and Health and Human Services Technical Assistance Centers.
The Department of Education plans to advance this access to mental health services by making the pathway into mental health professions more accessible, increasing the number and diversity of school-based mental health professionals, expanding the number of full-service community schools, increasing partnerships with community-based organizations to provide school-based mental health supports and community violence interventions, and reducing the stigmatization and shame that young people often associate with seeking help.