Community Mental Wellness Worker Training

Full Title:
Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act

Summary#

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to award grants to eligible organizations to run community mental wellness worker training programs. Grants may pay for training, certification, and supervision of community mental wellness workers and supervisors to screen for common mental health and substance use conditions and to deliver evidence-informed, culturally and linguistically competent counseling and interviewing interventions for mild-to-moderate conditions. Grants may also cover digital platforms, delivery of counseling, clinical supervision, and certification costs. The Secretary may provide technical assistance to grant recipients and share those resources more broadly. The bill gives funding priority to programs in high-poverty, medically underserved, high-substance-use areas, or areas with high rates of Medicare–Medicaid dual eligibility. It applies certain malpractice and negligence provisions to covered entities during the grant period and requires covered entities to submit lists of participating clinicians. The Secretary must report to Congress with an interim report within one year of enactment and a final report by the end of fiscal year 2030, including counts of workers trained and certified. The bill defines key terms, lists eligible entity types (for example, certified community behavioral health clinics, community mental health centers, certain hospitals), and authorizes $25,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with at least 20 percent of annual funds reserved for training and technical assistance.

What it means for you#

  • Local clinics, community behavioral health centers, some hospitals, and other community behavioral health organizations may apply for grants to train staff as community mental wellness workers.
  • Trained community mental wellness workers would be certified to screen for common mental health and substance use issues and to provide basic, evidence-informed counseling and safety planning for mild-to-moderate conditions.
  • Funds can be used for training, ongoing supervision, digital tools for screening and telehealth, and quality monitoring.
  • Priority funding would go to programs serving high-poverty areas, medically underserved communities, areas with higher substance use, or areas with many Medicare–Medicaid dual eligibles.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes appropriations of $25,000,000 for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program.
  • At least 20 percent of each year’s funds must be reserved for training and technical assistance.
  • No publicly available information on total estimated program costs beyond the authorization amounts or on how funds would be distributed among applicants.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.