CARE for Student Mental Health Act

The CARE for Student Mental Health Act aims to address the student mental health crisis by increasing the number and diversity of school-based mental health services providers. The bill provides grants to colleges and universities to create training programs for school counselors, psychologists, and social workers, with priority given to minority-serving institutions. It also provides grants to high-need school districts to recruit, hire, and retain mental health professionals, targeting specific staff-to-student ratios (such as 1 counselor per 250 students). The legislation includes reporting requirements to track progress on staffing ratios, diversity metrics, and service effectiveness. This bill directly affects educational institutions and school districts, particularly those serving communities with the greatest mental health service needs.