Youth Mental Health Corps

Michigan Joins New National Initiative to Address America’s Youth Mental Health Crisis
Michigan joins 10 other states, the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest, and AmeriCorps to launch country’s first Youth Mental Health Corps 

In response to America’s youth mental health crisis, Michigan is joining forces with 10 other states, the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps to recruit, train, and deploy the nation’s first Youth Mental Health Corps to help young people access critical mental health resources. 

The new Youth Mental Health Corps is an innovative, public-private collaboration, with a robust set of partners that include America's Service Commissions, America Forward, and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. The Corps will address the growing needs of young people while creating career pathways to address the national shortage of mental-health professionals. Corps members will be trained as navigators serving middle and high school students in schools and community-based organizations.

“AmeriCorps members are a tremendous resource for Michigan in helping solve the state’s pressing issues and youth mental health is one of those critical needs. AmeriCorps members can help fill the gap in the professional mental health care shortage and make connections with youth. We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking partnership and look forward to seeing the impact it will have on Michigan’s future.” said Ginna Holmes, Executive Director, Michigan Community Service Commission 

Corps members will gain valuable on-the-job experience, receive a stipend, and earn credentials to advance their career. They will also be eligible for education awards to pursue higher education or pay back qualifying student loans.

One in three high school students report persistent feelings of hopelessness, and approximately 122 million people live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, where there is a shortage of more than 6,000 practitioners, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan has a high rate of mental illness amongst youth, ranking 35th amongst states, according to Mental Health America. In Michigan, there are nearly 40,000 children diagnosed with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety who are not receiving the necessary treatment, either because they cannot find, access or afford care or due to the prevailing stigma around mental health diagnosis. Death by suicide is tied with unintentional injury for the leading cause of death for 10- to 14-year-olds. 

"We are at a critical moment where we must act with urgency to address the mental health crisis that is impacting millions of our children. I am incredibly thankful for our grantees and partners at America Forward, Pinterest and Schultz Family Foundation for standing up Youth Mental Health Corps. This innovative cross-sector partnership will build on AmeriCorps' 30 years of hands-on experience supporting youth mental health and well-being. AmeriCorps members will serve as peer support specialists and navigators at schools and in communities to connect students with care,” said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. 

The Youth Mental Health Corps seeks to address the crisis by leveraging the power of national service. Conceived by the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest, the program was developed in consultation with hundreds of experts and practitioners. Both organizations will provide financial support to participating state service commissions to design and adapt the initiative to meet local needs, including providing training and credentials at no cost to Corps members. AmeriCorps, the federal agency for service and volunteerism, will provide operating support to organizations hosting members, as well as stipends and education awards to Corps members.

“National service is a win-win for addressing the teen mental-health crisis because it allows young adults to support each other peer-to-peer while gaining valuable skills and experience, getting paid, and earning a credential. The Youth Mental Health Corps demonstrates the power of philanthropy, business, government, and non-profits partnering to create innovative solutions to critical national challenges.” said Sheri Kersch Schultz, Schultz Family Foundation co-founder and chair.

Michigan’s Youth Mental Health Corps will engage 125 AmeriCorps members as Youth Mental Health Corps Fellows over the course of two years. These individuals will come from AmeriCorps programs across the state and will earn credentials and participate in robust training and professional development related to one of three career pathways:

School-/CBO-Based Pathway: Members interested in serving in schools, out-of-school programs, and community-based youth organizations (CBOs) will complete service terms with existing school- and CBO-based AmeriCorps programs while earning stackable certifications and/or higher education credits.

Peer Recovery Coach / Peer Support Specialist Pathway: Members with lived experience may earn a Peer Recovery Coach Certificate or a Peer Support Specialist Certificate through MDHHS or their contractors, indicating that members have met specific State of Michigan training and competency requirements to provide Medicaid reimbursable peer support or recovery services. Members in this pathway will earn additional stackable certifications and professional training.

Community Health Worker Pathway: Members who complete over 1,000 hours and meet the credentialing requirements (which MCSC and our partners will support) may earn a Community Health Worker State Certifications through MDHHS or their contractors, indicating that they have completed the necessary training and qualifications to provide Medicaid-reimbursable services as a Community Health Worker (CHW).

Anyone ages 18-24 with a high school diploma can apply to serve with Michigan’s Youth Mental Health Corps.