CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act

This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program, a grant initiative designed to enhance the mental health professional workforce. The program aims to incentivize counselors to practice in states that have entered into interstate compacts, thereby expanding access to credentialed mental health services.

Grants will also support the development, operation, and maintenance of interstate compact commissions, which are joint governmental agencies facilitating the mutual recognition of professional qualifications across states. Eligible entities for these grants include various professional interstate compact commissions or state licensure boards participating in occupational licensure compacts for mental health professionals. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $4,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to fund this critical program.