The Youth Mental Health Corps is a collaborative initiative that will support youth mental health in schools and communities while giving over 500 young adults on-ramps into behavioral health careers.
The State of Youth Mental Health
In 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released the Surgeon General's Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health, calling for a swift and comprehensive response to the youth mental health crisis.
rates in the last 15 years in the U.S. for youth between 10-24.
among children ages 10-14 is suicide.
and half of female students report persistent feelings of hopelessness.
living in communities lack adequate mental health services.
Join the Youth Mental Health Corps as a Partner or Sponsor
Opportunities for partnership include:
Sponsor a state-wide youth mental health corps
Sponsor the Youth Mental Health Corps in a participating state. Sponsors will enable us to increase the benefits available to the young adults serving in the Corps.
invest in non-profits hosting corps members
By 2025, there will be more than 500 Corps members serving in over 100 nonprofits and schools across the country. By supporting our programmatic infrastructure, partners will help us ensure that participating nonprofits and schools have the resources they need.
Support impact measurement for sustained change
The Youth Mental Health Corps is one of the first of its kind to be intentionally designed to benefit those who are serving as well as those who are being served. By supporting our impact measurement work, partners will help us learn and iterate to ensure we are reaching our goals.
The Opportunity: Serve as a Youth Mental Health Corps Member
Youth Mental Health Corps members will have the opportunity to:
Harness their passion, skills and commitment to meaningfully impact the wellbeing of students in schools and communities.
Help young people navigate mental health, emotional wellbeing and other intersecting issues.
Connect youth to needed mental health supports and resources in close collaboration with practitioners and community partners.
Earn credentials during their year of service to continue onto a behavioral health career path.
The Member Experience
Youth Mental Health Corps Members will have the option to serve in schools, community based organizations, and community health clinics on 1-2 year projects while earning a living stipend and other support.
May–June
Learn all about the Youth Mental Health Corps
May–August
Join the Youth Mental Health Corps; decide on a credential pathway to pursue
July–August
Join the Youth Mental Health Corps; access career guidance and exploration; receive specialized training to prepare you for your service
September
Serve in the Youth Mental Health Corps; enroll in a formal training program
May–August
Complete your service and earn a credential and/or college credits
Your Future
Enroll/continue college program to earn a degree; Secure a job in the behavioral health field
State Participants
Colorado
Members will provide youth mental health support and increase workforce opportunities in the behavioral space for young adults with lived experience through its school-based and community health worker pathways.
Michigan
Members will serve in schools and communities to positively impact youth and gain experience in mental health navigation as they prepare for a career in behavioral health.
Minnesota
Members can explore career pathways into behavioral health, all while serving in schools and community organizations to boost Minnesota's youth mental health strategy.
Texas
Members will serve with a Communities In Schools school-based program by offering case management through weekly one-on-one or small group sessions to economically disadvantaged students.
California
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Iowa
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Maryland
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New Jersey
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New York
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Virginia
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Why We're Here
The Youth Mental Health Corps is a unified, multi-sector partnership designed to address the youth mental health crisis and the mental health workforce shortage in the United States. The Youth Mental Health Corps will consist of mental health navigators who are trusted young adults serving in select schools and communities. Its goals are to:
Meet youth where help is most acutely needed: schools, afterschool programs, community health centers, and youth centered organizations.
Offer young people interested in addressing our nation’s youth mental health crisis with an opportunity to provide peer support while obtaining quality training, skills, experiences, and credentials to start a career in behavioral health.
Increase the capacity of schools, community-based organizations, community health clinics, and behavioral health organizations to respond to the growing youth mental health crisis and provide support for the most vulnerable youth.
Share best practices on healthy social media use, digital safety and wellbeing and online safety with youth, school and community-based organizational staff, parents/care providers, and community members.
–U.S Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Interested in Appying?
Join the Youth Mental Health Corps
Want to make a difference in youth mental health? Ignite change and start your career as a Youth Mental Health Corps member.
Become a Community or State Partner
Learn more about how to become a partner to bring the Youth Mental Health to your community or to sponsor a state-wide Youth Mental Health Corps.