More than 8.3 million young people under 18 struggle with anxiety or depression—13 percent of the youth population. Despite the need, more than one third of the U.S. population lives in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, creating urgent dual crises of rising mental health needs and insufficient behavioral workforce capacity.
Launched in 2024, the Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC) is a multisector partnership that connects students with mental health resources while offering young adults valuable workforce experience. The program was conceived through a partnership between the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest.
WestEd conducted case studies of YMHC state programs and sites in four states after their 1st year of operation to capture early implementation experiences and inform future program development. This early summary provides insights into the initial impact of YMHC on youth and communities and reveals some of the key themes across programs that support the success of this approach.
Read WestEd’s Year 1 report on the Youth Mental Health Corps to see how this national initiative engaged 317 members across four states, reached thousands of students and families, and is building a scalable model that strengthens both youth mental health support and the behavioral health workforce.
Local Partnerships, National Impact: Year 1 of the Youth Mental Health Corps
By Tracy A. Huebner
Read WestEd’s Year 1 report on the Youth Mental Health Corps to see how this national initiative engaged 317 members across four states, reached thousands of students and families, and is building a scalable model that strengthens both youth mental health support and the behavioral health workforce.
Colorado Case Study: Building a Model of Student‑Centered Support Through the Youth Mental Health Corps
By Tracy A. Huebner
Read WestEd’s case study of Colorado’s Youth Mental Health Corps to learn how the state is tackling its student mental health crisis with near-peer navigators who deliver daily support while strengthening the behavioral health workforce.
View the accompanying video.
Michigan Case Study: Building a Stronger Behavioral Health Workforce Through the Youth Mental Health Corps
By Tracy A. Huebner
Read WestEd’s case study of Michigan’s Youth Mental Health Corps which documents how the state is tackling its youth mental health crisis by training young adults as near-peer navigators who expand access to care while building pathways into the behavioral health workforce.
View the accompanying video.
Minnesota Case Study: Students at the Center: Catalyzing Change Through Local Community Action
By Tracy A. Huebner
Read WestEd’s case study of Minnesota’s Youth Mental Health Corps to learn how the state is expanding access to culturally responsive mental health support in rural schools while building a sustainable behavioral health workforce.
View the accompanying video.
Texas Case Study: Providing Near-Peer Support Beyond the School Day
By Tracy A. Huebner
Read WestEd’s case study of Texas’s Youth Mental Health Corps to learn how near-peer navigators are expanding after-school and summer supports in underserved communities, improving student well-being and academic outcomes while preparing young adults for behavioral health careers.
Learn More
Learn more about how the Youth Mental Health Corps is transforming student support and building the behavioral health workforce by visiting WestEd’s project page or the Youth Mental Health Corps website.
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