Momnibus Act

758A. Maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce grants

(a) In general. The Secretary may award grants to entities to establish or expand programs described in subsection (b) to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce.

(b) Use of funds. Recipients of grants under this section shall use the grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce by—

(1) establishing schools or programs that provide education and training to individuals seeking appropriate licensing or certification as mental or behavioral health care providers who will specialize in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders; or

(2) expanding the capacity of existing schools or programs described in paragraph (1), for the purposes of increasing the number of students enrolled in such schools or programs, including by awarding scholarships for students.

(c) Prioritization. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any entity that—

(1) has demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority groups;

(2) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain a diverse pool of students into the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce program or school supported by funds received through the grant, particularly from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations;

(3) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain students who plan to practice in a health professional shortage area designated under section 332;

(4) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain students who plan to practice in an area with significant maternal health disparities, to the extent practicable; and

(5) includes in the standard curriculum for all students within the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce program or school a bias, racism, or discrimination training program that includes training on implicit bias and racism.

(d) Reporting. As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section for a maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce program or school, an entity shall agree to submit to the Secretary an annual report on the activities conducted through the grant, including—

(1) the number and demographics of students participating in the program or school;

(2) the extent to which students in the program or school are entering careers in—

(A) health professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and

(B) areas with significant maternal health disparities, to the extent such data are available; and

(3) whether the program or school has included in the standard curriculum for all students a bias, racism, or discrimination training program that includes training on implicit bias and racism, and if so the effectiveness of such training program.

(e) Period of grants. The period of a grant under this section shall be up to 5 years.

(f) Application. To seek a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including any information necessary for prioritization under subsection (c).

(g) Technical assistance. The Secretary shall provide, directly or by contract, technical assistance to entities seeking or receiving a grant under this section on the development, use, evaluation, and postgrant period sustainability of the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce programs or schools proposed to be, or being, established or expanded through the grant.

(h) Report by the Secretary. Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Congress, and post on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report on the effectiveness of the grant program under this section at—

(1) recruiting students from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations;

(2) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health care providers specializing in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations;

(3) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health care providers specializing in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders working in health professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and

(4) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health care providers specializing in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders working in areas with significant maternal health disparities, to the extent such data are available.

(i) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Racial and ethnic minority group. The term racial and ethnic minority group has the meaning given such term in section 1707(g)(1).

(2) Mental or behavioral health care provider. The term mental or behavioral health care provider refers to a health care provider in the field of mental and behavioral health, including substance use disorders, acting in accordance with State law.

(j) Authorization of appropriations. To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.