Mental Health Career Promotion Act

The Mental Health Career Promotion Act establishes a new grant program under the Public Health Service Act, aiming to address the shortage of mental and behavioral health professionals. This program, administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, will award grants to eligible partnerships to create or expand career promotion initiatives. Eligible partnerships must include local or state educational agencies, public junior or community colleges, and community-based mental or behavioral health providers. These grants will fund programs designed to promote careers in mental and behavioral health to students in grades 9 through 12 and those attending public junior or community colleges. Activities may include educational presentations, internships, mentorships, and opportunities to interact with and shadow professionals, all while ensuring cultural and linguistic appropriateness. The Secretary is tasked with ensuring geographical diversity among grant recipients and providing technical assistance to high-need educational entities. Grant recipients will receive funding for five-year periods, with the possibility of renewal, and must adhere to evaluation guidelines and submit annual reports on program effectiveness. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $50,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to support these efforts.