The Biden-Harris Administration has taken additional measures to address the mental health needs of youth and make communities safer from gun violence through HHS and the Education Department.
The two departments are partnering to advance the efforts of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which supports mental health investments and actions to prevent and respond to gun violence in communities, provide mental health services for gun violence victims and expand community violence interventions.
To support the act, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, EdD, sent a letter to governors detailing the departments' investments in school-based services, including gun violence training and trauma treatment.
In addition, the Education Department has awarded $286 million across 48 states to boost the training, hiring and diversification of mental health professionals in schools, and HHS has awarded almost $245 million to support youth mental health, help the healthcare workforce address mental health needs and fund other critical mental health supports.