Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program (PMHCA)

The Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program operates under the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and is designed to strengthen the capacity of pediatric primary care providers to address mental and behavioral health needs among children and youth. This initiative reflects a broader federal priority to integrate behavioral health into primary care settings and to improve early identification and treatment of mental health conditions among young populations. The primary purpose of this program is to expand access to pediatric mental health services by supporting statewide or regional tele-consultation systems. These systems allow pediatric primary care providers to connect with mental health specialists for real-time consultation, training, and care coordination support. The program aims to improve clinical outcomes by ensuring that providers have rapid access to expert guidance, thereby enhancing their ability to diagnose, treat, and manage behavioral health conditions within primary care settings. In addition, the program emphasizes workforce development by equipping providers with the knowledge and tools necessary to address complex mental health needs. Funding under this opportunity is delivered through cooperative agreements, indicating substantial involvement from the federal agency in program implementation and oversight. Awardees are expected to use funds to support telehealth infrastructure, provider training initiatives, care coordination services, and related activities that enhance pediatric mental health care delivery. While specific restrictions are not detailed in the summary, cooperative agreements typically require adherence to federal programmatic guidance and performance reporting standards. A cost sharing or matching requirement is explicitly noted, indicating that applicants must contribute non-federal resources toward the project. Eligibility for this program is limited to domestic public and tribal entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments, as well as federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations. Domestic eligibility is defined broadly to include all U.S. states, territories, and freely associated states. This inclusive eligibility framework is intended to support widespread geographic coverage and ensure that diverse populations can benefit from improved pediatric mental health services. The application process is expected to be conducted electronically through the federal grants system. Applicants must prepare and submit all required documentation by the specified deadline, with submissions due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. While specific application components are not outlined in the forecast, federal grant applications typically require detailed project narratives, budgets, and supporting documentation. There is no indication of a pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent in the provided information. The anticipated timeline indicates that the opportunity will be posted in early May, with applications due approximately one month later. Awards are expected to be announced by the end of August, with project activities beginning at the end of September. This timeline suggests a relatively rapid review and award process. The program is part of an ongoing federal initiative, though recurrence details are not explicitly stated in the summary. For additional information or clarification, applicants may contact the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Division of Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development via the provided phone number.