The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), has announced the allocation of $206 million in grant awards aimed at enhancing youth mental health. Simultaneously, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will expand Medicaid funding for school-based health services in Virginia, with a specific focus on improving access to mental health services. These combined efforts are set to expand access to mental health services within schools, reinforce the behavioral health workforce, and enhance access to mental health prevention and treatment for children and youth across the nation. These initiatives represent a significant stride in President Biden’s Unity Agenda, which emphasizes substantial investments to address the mental health crisis and reshape the understanding, accessibility, treatment, and integration of mental health within healthcare settings.
The investments encompass the following:
SAMHSA: SAMHSA is granting $131.7 million in various grant programs designed to connect youth and families with behavioral health services.
HRSA: HRSA is directing $55 million toward expanding access to mental health care for young individuals, including within school environments.
ACF: ACF is providing $20 million to enhance the quality of mental health services available to children involved in the child welfare system.
New Medicaid Funding: This funding initiative aims to expand access to health services, particularly mental health services, for eligible children within schools.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra expressed the administration’s strong commitment to addressing America’s mental health crisis, particularly among young people. He emphasized the importance of expanding mental health services to ensure that individuals in need can access care when and where they require it. Secretary Becerra underscored the administration’s effort to transform mental health and substance use treatment across the country by providing equitable access to services for all Americans.
Recent data underscores the need for increased support to address mental health and substance use challenges among young people. The most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that nearly three in five U.S. teen girls experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021, marking a nearly 60% increase over the past decade. The survey also indicated that 22% of high school students seriously contemplated suicide during the previous year.
Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm emphasized that these awards reflect the administration’s extraordinary commitment to addressing youth mental health challenges. The resources and tools being provided aim to assist struggling children and their families by ensuring accessible behavioral health care options.
Supporting At-Risk Youth and Families
Under SAMHSA’s funding umbrella:
$5.7 million has been allocated for Planning and Developing Infrastructure to Promote the Mental Health of Children, Youth, and Families in American Indian/Alaska Native Communities.
$5.5 million has been designated for Cooperative Agreements for School-Based Trauma-Informed Support Services and Mental Health Care for Children and Youth.
$2.4 million has been assigned to Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health (Project LAUNCH).
$16.4 million has been apportioned for Healthy Transitions: Improving Life Trajectories for Youth and Young Adults with Serious Mental Disorders.
$41.2 million has been earmarked for Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity in Adult and Family Treatment Drug Courts.
$48.3 million has been granted for Grants for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (System of Care SOC Expansion and Sustainability).
$1.8 million has been allotted for Preventing Youth Overdose: Treatment, Recovery, Education, Awareness, and Training.
$8.7 million has been provided for Behavioral Health Partnership for Early Diversion of Adults and Youth.
$1.7 million has been designated for Family Counseling and Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
Queer/Questioning, Intersex+ Youth and Their Families.
Expanding Access to Youth Mental Health Care
HRSA’s allocation of $55 million includes:
$25 million for 77 HRSA-funded health centers to establish new school-based health centers and expand existing ones.
$19 million to 25 states and territories to train pediatricians in mental health care and offer real-time teleconsultation for pediatricians seeking expert support from psychiatrists and other mental health providers to address their patients’ mental health needs.
$11 million to 23 organizations to train additional behavioral health providers focused on serving children, adolescents, and young adults in underserved and rural areas.
Center to Support Mental Health Services in Child Welfare
ACF is contributing $20 million to launch the first National Center to Support Mental Health Services in the Child Welfare System. This initiative aims to provide technical assistance and evidence-informed training to enhance coordination and capacity among child welfare and mental health professionals and systems. Its goal is to improve the quality of mental health services for children, young adults, and families involved in the child welfare system, including those who have experienced adoption.
Expanding School-Based Health Services
CMS has approved the Virginia Free Care School Services State Plan Amendment 21-0017. This amendment enables schools in Virginia to bill Medicaid for various services, including mental health and nursing services, provided to children. Virginia is the fifth state this year and the sixteenth state overall to receive “Free Care” SPA approval. This move leverages the flexibility provided in the “Delivering Services in School-Based Settings: A Comprehensive Guide to Medicaid Services and Administrative Claiming” released earlier this year.
