Mental Health Career Promotion Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced
Summary
Would create a federal grant program to promote careers in mental and behavioral health. The program would target students in grades 9–12 and public junior or community colleges with internships, mentorships, and hands‑on learning to build local pipelines into the field.
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- Students: High school and community college students would get career exposure, internships, shadowing, mentorships, and experiential learning to explore roles in mental and behavioral health.
- Schools and colleges: Local educational agencies and public junior or community colleges would partner with community behavioral health providers to run programs and could receive five‑year renewable grants.
- Providers and accountability: Community behavioral health providers and institutions would use funds to develop pathways to jobs like counselors, social workers, peer support specialists, and psychologists. The Secretary may give technical assistance to high‑need LEAs, requires annual reports and an evaluation framework, and limits data spending to 10% of grant funds.
*Would authorize $50 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030, increasing federal spending by $50 million annually during that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More mental-health career programs for students
This bill would create a new HHS grant program to promote careers in mental and behavioral health for students in grades 9–12 and at public junior or community colleges. Grants would go to partnerships that include local or State schools, a public junior or community college, and a community-based mental health or similar partner. Grants would fund classroom talks, internships, shadowing, mentorships, and other developmentally, linguistically, and culturally appropriate activities. Each grant would run five years and be renewable. Recipients could not spend more than 10 percent of grant funds on data collection and measurement. The Secretary would have to ensure geographic diversity of awards, may help high-need schools and colleges seek grants, must set common outcome measures, require annual reports, and report to Congress within one year and annually after. The bill would authorize $50 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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