Mental Health Career Promotion Act

Key Points

• Congresswoman Balint proposed a bill to create a grant program that encourages high school and community college students to pursue jobs in mental health. The goal is to build a larger workforce of professionals like counselors, social workers, and doctors to meet the growing need for mental health care.
• The program would provide $50 million every year from 2027 through 2031 to fund partnerships between schools and local health clinics. These groups would work together to show students what it is like to work in the mental health field through classroom presentations and hands-on learning.
• Students in grades 9 through 12 and those in community colleges would get opportunities for internships, job shadowing, and mentorships with real professionals. This helps students see a clear path from school to a career helping others with their mental and behavioral health.
• The Health and Human Services Department would oversee the grants, making sure the money goes to a diverse range of locations across the country. They would also offer extra help to schools in high-need areas to make sure students there have the same chances to explore these careers.
• To ensure the program works, schools receiving the money must report back on how many students they reached and how effective the activities were. No more than 10 percent of the grant money can be used for paperwork or data collection, ensuring most of the funds go directly toward student programs.

Impact Analysis

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