H.R. 6131: Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act

This bill, titled the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act, aims to improve the availability of mental health services in schools, particularly in low-income areas. Here are the key components:

Purpose of the Bill

The main goal of this legislation is to increase the number of school-based mental health providers in low-income local educational agencies. This is intended to better address the mental health needs of students and provide necessary support services in educational settings.

Grant Program

• The bill establishes a grant program administered by the Secretary of Education to support eligible partnerships between local educational agencies and graduate institutions.
• These grants encourage partnerships to create pipeline programs aimed at recruiting, training, and retaining school-based mental health services providers.
• Grants are available for a period of 5 years, with the possibility of renewal if certain progress criteria are met.

Eligibility for Grants

To qualify for grants, partnerships must:

• Include at least one low-income local educational agency.
• Show current ratios of mental health service providers (e.g., counselors, social workers, psychologists) to students and plan to improve these ratios.
• Submit applications detailing their strategies for training and retaining mental health professionals.

Use of Grant Funds

Grant money can be used for various purposes, including:

• Paying administrative costs related to placing graduate students in schools.
• Hiring and paying salaries of recent graduates who work in low-income educational settings.
• Offering training and coursework aimed at addressing the needs of diverse student populations.
• Recruiting culturally and linguistically diverse graduate students to enhance service delivery.

Student Loan Repayment Program

The bill also proposes a student loan repayment program for individuals employed as mental health service providers in low-income local educational agencies. Key points include:

• Eligible individuals can apply for repayment of federal student loans if they commit to working in these roles for at least five years.
• The repayment structure is designed to gradually forgive loans over the five-year commitment period.

Future Designation Study

The Secretary of Education is instructed to conduct a study to identify regions experiencing shortages of school-based mental health service providers. This study will inform future grant programs and initiatives to ensure adequate staffing in schools.

Reporting and Evaluation

Grant recipients will be required to report annually on their progress and outcomes, including:

• The number of students served and the characteristics of the participating agencies.
• Data on retention rates of both students in the pipeline program and the mental health service providers.

The Secretary will also carry out evaluations to measure the overall effectiveness of the program.

Funding Authorization

The bill proposes an authorized budget of $200 million for the fiscal year 2026 and each subsequent year to support these initiatives.

Relevant Companies

None found.