Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Legislative Leadership Announce More Than $96 Million in New State Grant Funding to Strengthen Student Mental Health Supports
Grants awarded by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission through the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports
Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission has announced grant awards totaling $96.3 million to expand access to comprehensive behavioral health services for children, pre-kindergarten through high school, in every jurisdiction in Maryland. This historic investment, provided by the Moore-Miller Administration and the Maryland General Assembly as part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, will support current and expanded behavioral health services for the 2026-2027 school year through the Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports program.
“Maryland’s greatest asset is our children, and we have a fundamental obligation to support their well-being both inside and outside the classroom,” said Governor Wes Moore. “When we prioritize mental health, we ensure that every student has the strong foundation they need to learn, grow, and ultimately succeed. This is about showing our children that their mental health matters deeply, and that Maryland will always stand firmly behind them.”
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential, but that cannot happen if they are struggling in silence,” said Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller. “As someone who grew up with a parent living with bipolar disorder, I know how life-changing it can be when families have access to the support they need. These investments will help ensure that more Maryland students can receive care early, close to home, and in the places they already know and trust. Our goal is simple: more resources, more support, and less stigma—so every young person knows they never have to face their struggles alone.”
Consortium grants are currently serving 84% of Maryland’s schools and these grant awards are projected to serve an estimated 200,000 children in the next school year. More than 500 new behavioral health workforce members have been hired and 89% of individuals report satisfaction with the services they received.
“When we passed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, we knew that academic excellence could not be achieved in a vacuum. True student success requires that we support the whole child,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson. “This $96.3 million investment is a testament to Maryland’s unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers to care, ensuring that every student, in every zip code, has access to the vital behavioral health resources they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.”
“Too many young people are struggling silently with anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress, and too many families have faced barriers to getting help. These investments reflect Maryland’s commitment to meeting students where they are and making sure support is available before a crisis occurs,” said House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk. “The Blueprint was always about more than academic achievement alone — it was about creating the conditions for every child to feel safe, supported, and able to thrive. I’m proud that Maryland continues to lead with compassion, partnership, and a deep belief in the potential of every student.”
“Today's awards represent more than funding. They reflect Maryland's unwavering commitment to the whole child,” said CHRC Chair Dr. Destiny-Simone Ramjohn. “The Consortium is demonstrating the power of transformation by bringing together state leaders, schools, providers, and communities to expand access to behavioral health care. Through strong partnerships, meaningful investment, and rigorous accountability, we are building a system where every child has the opportunity to learn, heal, and thrive.”
The CHRC provides administrative leadership and fiscal stewardship for the Consortium.
“These awards build on the remarkable progress made during the first two years of the program,” said Consortium Chair David D. Rudolph. “These new grants will allow our programs to reach more students in more schools, and to address a wide range of behavioral health needs.”
Interventions will be both clinical and non-clinical, and will address a wide range of behavioral health issues through prevention, behavioral health screenings, counseling, substance use prevention and treatment, family support, crisis planning and services, telehealth services, support groups, mentoring, and more.
A complete list of awardees can be found here.
The latest impact statement from Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports can be found here.
For a recording of today's press conference, please contact Rachel Sawicki at (443) 221-1894 or [email protected].
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About the Consortium
The Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports was created in 2021 through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Ch. 36 of 2021). It is composed of 25 experts in behavioral health and education. The Consortium’s purpose is to develop a statewide framework to expand access to comprehensive behavioral health and wraparound services for Maryland students.
More information about the work of the Consortium can be found here.
About the CHRC
The CHRC was created by the Maryland General Assembly in 2005 to expand access to health care for low-income Marylanders and underserved communities across the state and to bolster the capacity of the health care safety net infrastructure to deliver affordable, high-quality health services. The CHRC is an independent commission within the Maryland Department of Health, and its 11 Commissioners are appointed by the Governor. Under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Ch. 36 of 2021), the CHRC serves as the fiscal agent for the Consortium.
Since its inception, the CHRC has awarded 985 grants totaling more than $396 million, supporting programs in all 24 jurisdictions of the state. More information about the work of the CHRC can be found here.