HHS Announces $40.2 Million in Youth Mental Health Grants and $47.6 Million in New Grant Funding Opportunities for School-Based Mental Health Program

On September 1, HHS announced the award of $40.2 million in youth mental health grants through SAMHSA and an additional $47.6 million in new grant funding opportunities developed from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.  

Of the $44.2 million in youth mental health grants awarded through SAMHSA, OhioMHAS will receive $1.8 million through Project AWARE to support Behavioral Health and Wellness Coordinators in schools, the ADAMHS Board of Franklin County received $331,000 to support and expand the Ohio State University Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER) program, OhioPRO received $120,000 to support statewide consumer networks, and the Hancock County ADAMHS Board received $1 million to support Systems of Care for youth with serious emotional disorders.  Congratulations to these awardees.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act implements changes to the mental health care system, school safety programs and gun safety laws and provides $800 million in funding to SAMHSA. $47.6 million of that funding will provide new grant opportunities for school-based mental health programs:

1. $37.6 million for Project Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (AWARE) to develop a sustainable infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and services that promote the healthy social and emotional development of school-aged youth and prevent youth violence in school settings.
2. $10 million for the Resiliency in Communities after Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) grant program, which helps assist high-risk youth and families by promoting resilience and equity in communities that have recently faced civil unrest, community violence, and/or collective trauma through implementation of evidence-based, violence prevention, and community youth engagement programs, as well as linkages to trauma-informed behavioral health services.

The new grant funding opportunities build on previous actions announced by HHS earlier this year. On August 18, HHS announced key actions to strengthen and expand access to high-quality, comprehensive health care for children across the country.