Mental Health Career Promotion Act

This bill would create a federal grant program, run through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to fund programs that promote mental and behavioral health careers to high school students in grades 9 through 12 and to students at public junior or community colleges. To qualify, a group must be a partnership of school districts or a state education agency, at least one public junior or community college, and a community mental health provider or other community organization. Funded programs could offer career presentations, internships, job shadowing, and mentoring. Grants would last 5 years and could be renewed, recipients would file yearly reports, and the bill authorizes $50 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Alex Padilla Democrat sponsor
• 3 cosponsors