H.R. 5557 — Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025

This section redesignates part G of title V of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (relating to services provided through religious organizations) as part J and its sections 581 through 584 as sections 596 through 596C, respectively; and revises section 581 (previously relating to children and violence) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to award five-year grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements (renewable) to partnerships of state or local educational agencies (or consortia) and community-based mental health providers to deliver comprehensive, trauma-informed, culturally appropriate school-based mental health services and supports—including for Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools—to children and adolescents addressing trauma, grief, bereavement, suicide risk, and violence. Awards support (1) school- and community-based programs to raise trauma awareness, train staff for screening and identification, and provide interventions, family engagement, and multigenerational supports; (2) technical assistance; (3) partnerships among families, schools, law enforcement, mental health providers, child welfare agencies, health care providers, higher education, faith-based programs, and others; and (4) mechanisms for reporting violence. Awards require HIPAA and FERPA compliance, equitable distribution across regions and urban/rural areas, and evaluation by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use (including outcome measures and annual data reporting).