§2.Mental and Behavioral Health Career Promotion Grant Program
This section establishes the Mental and Behavioral Health Career Promotion Grant Program under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–31 et seq.). Under the program, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, awards grants to partnerships of (1) one or more local educational agencies (or a consortium or state educational agency), (2) one or more public junior or community colleges (or a consortium), and (3) at least one community-based mental or behavioral health provider (e.g., certified community behavioral health clinic, community mental health center, opioid treatment program) or other entity (e.g., behavioral health authority, human service agency, child welfare agency, historically Black college or university).
Grants support eligible career promotion programs for students in grades 9 through 12 or public junior or community colleges, including (1) educational presentations on mental and behavioral health careers, (2) internships and externships, (3) opportunities to shadow professionals, (4) mentorships and experiential learning, or (5) partnerships with higher education institutions and community behavioral health organizations. Activities must be developmentally, linguistically, and culturally appropriate; grants are for five years and renewable; awards ensure geographical diversity; and the Secretary provides technical assistance to high-need local educational agencies and public junior or community colleges.
The Secretary establishes an evaluation process with guidelines and outcome measures (including student, family, and local educational system impacts); requires annual grantee reports and annual reports to Congress beginning one year after enactment; and limits grantee data collection, performance measurement, and assessment to 10% of grant amounts.
The section defines "career in mental or behavioral health" as occupations providing direct treatment or recovery support for mental or behavioral health disorders (e.g., physician, advanced practice registered nurse, social worker, marriage and family therapist, counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, peer support specialist, community health worker, physician assistant). It incorporates definitions of relevant terms from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and Higher Education Act of 1965 and authorizes $50 million for the program.