Hope Squad Joins Coalition to Fully Fund School-Based Mental Health Grants

With student mental health challenges straining schools across the country, Hope Squad joins a coalition led by Inseparable, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and  Sandy Hook Promise who are calling on Congress to fully fund school-based mental health grants established under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

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Hope Squad’s mission is rooted in student empowerment, human connection, peer-to-peer support, and early intervention. Our network includes thousands of schools and millions of student leaders who witness firsthand the difference that trained mental health professionals make in classrooms and communities. 

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“We must mean it when we say young people matter. Right now, Congress has a multi-million-dollar opportunity to prove it," says Eric Workman, Hope Squad CEO. “We have the evidence, we have the support and, most importantly, we have the solution to the problem. By funding these grants, we can make sure every student has access to trained, caring adults in school—no matter where they live.”

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If passed, the Senate proposal will:

• Expand access in rural and under-resourced communities.
• Build a sustainable workforce pipeline of trained professionals ready to serve in schools nationwide.
• Strengthen prevention, community safety, and the long-term well-being of students and families.

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Americans across the political spectrum recognize the urgency:

• 90% of adults say expanding access to mental health care should be a priority for elected officials, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation; and
• Research by Action for Healthy Kids found that 80% of parents support schools providing access to mental health professionals.

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Between May and December 2023, a single cohort of mental health grantees supported over 775,000 students, hired 1,296 new providers, trained 1,767 professionals, and placed 1,191 graduate students in practicums and internships. In classrooms across the country, these investments are helping children manage anxiety, reconnect to school, and stay on track to graduate.

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Hope Squad is proud to stand with more than 40 national organizations in calling for swift action. As a nation, we should invest in prevention today or pay the price for a crisis tomorrow.