Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Seeks Innovative Ideas to Strengthen Student and Educator Mental Health

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced it is looking for innovative ideas from educators, providers and community partners on how to strengthen mental health supports for students across Massachusetts, from birth through higher education. 

The Executive Office of Education (EOE) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to help shape a comprehensive, statewide framework for mental and behavioral health, including ideas for projects, programs and grants. This effort will inform what investments are needed to shift how the state’s schools and places of learning partner across the community to incorporate mental health and wellness into everyday practice.

The administration is currently developing a framework that will guide a coordinated statewide strategy to strengthen mental health supports in Massachusetts, improving alignment among early education providers, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, families and community-based service systems. In collaboration with Health and Human Service agencies and other key stakeholders, EOE and its agencies will use this framework to identify, guide, and align collective efforts to better understand and address mental and behavioral health wellness needs among all students, from infants to adult learners, using common language, strategies, and metrics.

“This is an opportunity for practitioners, community organizations, researchers and educators to help shape the future of student mental health in Massachusetts,” said Education Secretary Stephen Zrike. “We are looking for bold, thoughtful ideas that are grounded in evidence, centered in equity, and built to last.” 

The administration is interested in high-impact ideas that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Expands, scales, or replicates a successful existing education-based program with developed metrics and measurable impact on mental health and wellbeing
• Uses evidence-based practices to improve mental health at a particular developmental stage
• Develops infrastructure for sustainability of mental health supports, including coaching and support for systems navigation and success planning
• Supports the development of metrics in each of the educational settings
• Deploys innovative tools or approaches including “proof of concept” projects for promising practices or technology to break down silos and integrate services

“Supporting mental and behavioral health from the earliest years is essential to helping every learner thrive,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “We know that strong early foundations are critical, and we’re proud to be part of this statewide effort to align partners and systems. By working together and inviting new ideas, we can build a more connected, responsive approach that supports children, families, and educators across Massachusetts.”

“This administration is committed to supporting the mental health of students of all ages,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “Developing a statewide framework for mental and behavioral health will allow us to better align and integrate supports throughout students' educational journey.”

“Strong mental health support should be a throughline in a student’s educational journey, and I’m grateful that my colleagues in the administration are seeking a strong partner to make that a reality,” said Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega. “I look forward to the Commonwealth establishing a cohesive approach that will support students’ mental health needs not only when they arrive at college, but well before.” 

Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget invests $17 million in education funding to support student mental and social-emotional health, addressing the youth mental health crisis and ensuring students have the behavioral health care they need to balance their mental health and education. Key investments include $6 million to continue the development and implementation of a statewide birth-through-higher-education mental and behavioral health framework. In addition, the budget includes $5 million to maintain EEC’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services, $2.9 million to fundDESE’s Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health Grant and $648,949 to maintain Safe and Supportive Schools.  

Interested vendors can find the RFI on COMMBUYS. This RFI will inform future procurements, pending funding.

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