This bill creates new federal actions to support the mental health and well-being of education professionals and other school staff. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (working with the Secretary of Education) to identify and share evidence-based practices for preventing suicide and improving mental health among school staff. The bill requires a national education and awareness initiative to encourage school staff to seek help for mental health or substance use concerns and to reduce stigma. That initiative must report to Congress within 2 years. The bill adds new grant programs (and training grants) to Part E of Title VII of the Public Health Service Act to fund programs run by state and local education agencies, institutions of higher education, or consortia to create or improve programs, peer-support, training, and access to mental health care (including via telehealth). Grants are prioritized for areas with many Title I schools and are for 3-year terms with annual reporting. The bill also requires a review by HHS of workforce mental health and resiliency and a GAO report within 4 years on how federal mental health and substance use grant programs address school staff needs.
For education professionals and school staff: the bill aims to expand awareness, training, peer support, and access to mental health services, and it directs federal agencies to identify and share best practices. For school systems and institutions of higher education: eligible entities can apply for grants or contracts to start or strengthen programs, training, and referrals for staff mental health. For communities with many Title I schools: those areas get priority for grant awards. The bill sets reporting and review deadlines so federal agencies must track activities and outcomes. The bill authorizes funding but does not itself guarantee specific local services.
The bill authorizes specific funding amounts in the text: $10,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to carry out the national education and awareness initiative (Section 3), and $35,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to carry out the grant programs added to the Public Health Service Act (Section 4). No other cost estimates or appropriations are provided in the bill text.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.