School Based Mental Health Grant Program-Year 4

The New Jersey Department of Education is issuing the final, six‑month continuation of its School‑Based Mental Health Grant Program (Project Period 4). The grant is limited to the ten Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that were selected in the program’s first year and provides up to $50,000 per LEA to recruit, place, hire, and retain school‑based mental‑health professionals (counselors, psychologists, social workers). Funding is state‑only, total $500,000, and must be applied for by 13 Nov 2025. Recipients must form partnerships with Institutes of Higher Education, develop recruitment/retention incentives, and submit quarterly and final reports. • Eligible only for the pre‑selected ten LEAs (no new applicants). • Maximum award per LEA: $50,000 for a six‑month project (Jan 1 – Jun 30 2026). • Required activities: hiring/placing mental‑health staff, establishing IHE pipelines, providing stipends, professional development, and extensive data reporting. • All costs must be budgeted to specific activities; administrative costs capped at 10 % of the award. • Reporting deadlines: interim report Apr 30 2026, final report Aug 31 2026; reimbursement requests due May 8 2026.