Bill > H0323

This bill establishes the Mental Health Innovation Special Fund to support various mental health programming initiatives in Vermont. The fund will be primarily financed through tax return checkoffs and donations, and will support three key programs: a behavioral health innovation grant program, a mental health screening program in schools, and a peer-to-peer mental health support program. The behavioral health innovation grant program will provide funding to qualified care providers (such as licensed psychologists, counselors, and accredited organizations) to develop and expand youth and school-based services, improve workforce training, implement best practices, and pilot retention incentives. The mental health screening program will allow supervisory unions to provide age-appropriate mental health screenings in schools, with parental consent, to identify students who may need intervention. The peer-to-peer mental health support program will be a four-year pilot that enables students to provide mental health support to each other under the guidance of certified peer support providers, with a focus on suicide prevention and supporting areas with high suicide rates. Additionally, the bill includes a mental health and substance misuse literacy curriculum to be developed by the Agency of Education, which will provide students with age-appropriate information about mental health, resources, and strategies for seeking help. The bill allocates initial funding from the General Fund, with the intent to transition to the Mental Health Innovation Special Fund for future years.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.323