School Based Mental Health Services (SBMH)

This competition has four absolute priorities and two competitive preference priorities:

Absolute Priorities

• Absolute Priority 1—SEAs Proposing to Increase the Number of Credentialed School-Based Mental Health Services Providers in LEAs with Demonstrated Need.
• Absolute Priority 2—LEAs or Consortia of LEAs with Demonstrated Need Proposing to Increase the Number of Credentialed School-Based Mental Health Services Providers.
• Absolute Priority 3—Applications From New Potential Grantees.
• Absolute Priority 4—Applications From Grantees that Are Not New Potential Grantees

Competitive Preference Priorities

• Competitive Preference Priority 1— SEAs Proposing Re-specialization, Professional Retraining, or Other Preparation Plan for Existing Mental Health Services Providers to Qualify Them for Work in LEAs with Demonstrated Need.
• Competitive Preference Priority 2— Increasing the Number of Credentialed School-Based Mental Health Services Providers in LEAs with Demonstrated Need Who Are from Diverse Backgrounds or from Communities Served by the LEAs with Demonstrated Need

Applicants who receive an award under this program must ensure that any school-based mental health services provider hired under this grant, including any services provider that offers telehealth services, is credentialed by the state to work in an elementary school or secondary school. They must also ensure that any school-based mental health services provider offering services (including telehealth services) does so in an equitable manner and consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as all other applicable Federal, State, and local laws and profession-specific ethical obligations.