The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), U.S. Department of Education, invites applications for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMHS) Grant Program.

Increases in mental health related needs, including those resulting from traumatic events such as the COVID–19 pandemic, community violence, adverse childhood experiences, bullying and harassment, and the impact of social media, have brought on challenges for children and youth that impact their overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and their ability to fully engage in learning.

Purpose

The purpose of the SBMHS grant program is to provide competitive grants to State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and consortia of LEAs to increase the number of credentialed mental health services providers providing school-based mental health services to students in LEAs with demonstrated need.

Eligible Entities

For succinct definitions of SEAs and LEAs and LEA consortia, see 20 U.S.C. 7801(49) and 20 U.S.C. 7801(30).

Eligible (Required) Activities

LEAs or Consortia of LEAs with demonstrated need, or SEAs applying on their behalf, must propose plans to accomplish both of the following objectives:

• Increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health services providers (Recruitment); and
• Increase the likelihood that credentialed services providers providing services in LEAs with demonstrated need stay in their position over time (Retention).

Preferred Activities

In addition, applicants receive additional points during Intergovernmental Review for plans that promote one of the following aspects:

• Respecialization, professional retraining, or similar preparation that leads to a State credential as a school psychologist, school social worker, school counselor, or other school-based mental health services provider; or
• Participation of credentialed school-based mental health services providers who are from diverse backgrounds or from the community served by the LEA with demonstrated need.

Award

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Cost Sharing or Matching:  This program includes cost sharing or matching requirements.

Est. Available Funds: $19,000,000; contingent on congressional appropriation.

Est. Range of Awards: $500,000 to 3,000,000.

Est. Average Size of Awards: $1,750,000.

Est. Number of Awards: 15–25 awards.

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Important Dates

Applications Available: March 1, 2024.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 30, 2024.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 1, 2024.

Next Steps

To register for the SBMHS Grant Application Q & A Technical Assistance Webinar that will take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 2:00-3:00 pm (Washington, D.C. time), go to School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Application Webinar: 2pm EST, 04/16/2024 .

To read the full notice in the Federal Register, go to Federal Register :: School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program

For information specific to applying, go to Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs.

For further information about the SBMHS grant, contact Amy Banks, U.S. Department of Education, at (202) 453–6704 or OESE.School.Mental.Health@ed.gov.

Other Person of Note:  Adam Schott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs, Delegated the Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of the Assistant Secretary Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Assistance Listing Number: 84.184H