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# The Biden-Harris Administration Takes Additional Actions to  Address Mental Health Needs of Young People and Make Communities Safer from Gun Violence

# The Biden-Harris Administration Takes Additional Actions to  Address Mental Health Needs of Young People and Make Communities Safer from Gun Violence

June 16, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

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Today, the U.S. Department of Education  (ED) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took additional  steps to advance the investments and efforts set forth by  President Biden’s Bipartisan Safer Communities  Act (BSCA) -- the most significant bipartisan gun safety legislation in nearly  30 years.  BSCA set forth crucial mental  health investments and actions to prevent and respond to gun violence in communities,  ensure that those experiencing grief and trauma resulting from gun violence  have access to high-quality mental health services, and supports to make our  schools safer and expand community violence interventions. 

"It's no secret that we  are facing a mental health crisis in this  country, and our children are  hurting," said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra.  "That is why this Administration is committed to addressing this crisis  through continued efforts, investments, and more. The actions being announced  today will make it easier for schools to receive payment for the mental health  services they deliver to students impacted by gun violence.  At HHS, we will continue working to ensure young people have more places to  turn to for help." 

“Too many students have  experienced gun violence in their schools and communities.  The grief and trauma caused by gun violence undermines  their ability to learn and thrive and has only heightened the national youth  mental health crisis,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The  Department of Education is using every available resource to maximize the  investments made through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to help schools  build an infrastructure of care and support for students. The Biden-Harris administration  will continue working to break down silos between education and health care,  raise the bar for our support of students’ mental health and wellbeing, and ensure  our schools are safe havens for teaching and learning.” 

To advance the mission of the Bipartisan  Safer Communities Act, Secretaries Becerra and Cardona sent a joint letter to governors highlighting resources to help states, communities, and schools support  students’ mental health and well-being, particularly students impacted by gun  violence. The letter highlights ED’s investments and capacity-building efforts that  will expand and improve school-based mental health services, address community  violence, provide wraparound supports, and promote a safe and supportive school  climate.  The letter also outlines HHS’s  efforts to support the development of school-based mental health supports;  prepare and train school personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement  and others to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health impacts from  gun violence; and increase treatment and support services for individuals and communities  affected by trauma, including trauma caused by gun violence. 

ED and HHS are working together on BSCA  implementation because today’s young people are facing unprecedented challenges  and disruptions in their school lives and communities, including increased disconnection  and social isolation as well as increased gun violence. These challenges have  had devastating effects on students’ mental health and well-being, which in  turn have profound implications for their academic success and their overall life  outcomes. These new actions help extend the impact of BSCA in keeping our  communities safe, bringing new resources and protections to bear both in addressing  the mental health challenges that young people face so that all students can  learn freely and safely every day and curbing gun violence in our communities. 

The  Biden Administration has taken a multifaceted approach to BSCA implementation  to deliver on crucial protections and resources to help prevent gun violence in schools and support the  development of high-quality school-based mental health services. 

At ED, this  includes awarding $286 million to  date across 264 grantees in 48 states and territories to boost the training, hiring,  and diversification of mental health professionals in schools through its  School-Based Mental Health and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration  grant programs (which will result in  an estimated 14,000 additional mental health professionals in schools); distributing $1 billion in the Stronger Connections  Grant program to help schools in high-need districts provide students with  safe, welcoming, and supportive learning opportunities and environments that  are critical for their success; and providing an additional $50 million to supplement before- and after-school programming  for young people through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning  Centers, through evidence-based practices that increase attendance and  engagement among middle- and high-school aged youth. 

At HHS,  nearly $245 million in funding has been  awarded to support youth mental health, help the health care workforce address  mental health needs, and fund other critical mental health supports; $70  million to help develop and support school-based mental health programs; almost  $60 million to prepare and train school personnel, emergency first responders,  law enforcement and others to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health  challenges; and almost $55 million to increase treatment and support services  for individuals and communities affected by trauma caused by gun violence.. In  the coming months, HHS will also provide almost $60 million to states and  territories for the second of four increments in supplemental funding for the  Community Mental Health Services Block Grant for mental health treatment and  recovery services including crisis services and early serious mental illness  treatment programs. 
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