Federal grants to train mental health paraprofessionals in underserved areas
H.R. 5733 — Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act · Filed by Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Oct 10, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill authorizes $25 million per year (2026–2030) for federal grants to train and certify 'community mental wellness workers'—paraprofessionals who screen for and deliver basic counseling for mild-to-moderate mental health and substance use disorders. Grants go to community health clinics, mental health centers, and hospitals; priority is given to areas with high poverty, unemployment, substance use, or dual Medicare/Medicaid enrollment. The bill also extends federal liability protections (from section 224 of the Public Health Service Act) to grant-funded workers and their employers.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is straightforward: federal grants to train paraprofessional mental health workers in underserved areas. It is a direct public-health investment, not a tax provision, deregulation, or narrow carve-out.
What the text implies
- Liability protections (section 224 extension) may reduce legal accountability for negligence by grant-funded workers, though they mirror existing federal health worker protections and do not shield gross misconduct.
- The bill does not mandate reimbursement rates or insurance coverage for community mental wellness worker services, leaving sustainability dependent on state Medicaid plans and private payers—potential implementation gap.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
community behavioral health clinics; community mental health centers; nonprofit hospitals