School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network – Principal Student Support Services Grant

Fully Funded Mental Health Professionals Plus Up to $5,000 Annually for High-Need Schools

The School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN) is accepting applications for its Principal Student Support Services Grant, a national funding opportunity designed to expand access to mental health services for students experiencing chronic absenteeism, behavioral challenges, or declining academic performance.

The program can provide qualifying schools with a fully funded qualified mental healthcare professional who delivers evidence-based mental health support directly to students. Eligible schools may also receive up to $5,000 per year for five years, for a potential total of up to $25,000 in additional grant support for student service initiatives.

The next application deadline is February 1, 2027.

Organization: School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN)
Support Type: School mental health services and student support grants
Funding Amount: Fully funded mental health professional plus up to $5,000 annually for five years
Potential Cash Grant: Up to $25,000 over five years
Geographic Focus: Nationwide
Next Deadline: February 1, 2027
Match Requirement: None

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About the Funder

The School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network works with schools and communities to increase access to behavioral and mental healthcare for students.

Its Principal Student Support Services Grant is designed to address barriers that prevent schools — particularly schools serving economically disadvantaged communities — from providing adequate mental health support.

Rather than providing only a traditional cash grant, SBHSN’s model can place a qualified mental healthcare professional directly within an eligible school campus while covering the cost of that professional.

The program is intended to help schools respond earlier and more effectively when students experience mental health concerns that contribute to attendance, behavior, and academic challenges.

What This Program Supports

The Principal Student Support Services Grant focuses on expanding access to school-based mental health support for students demonstrating significant need.

Grant-supported services are particularly focused on students with documented histories of:

Chronic Absenteeism

Students who are consistently missing school and may need additional mental health, behavioral, or social-emotional intervention.

Behavioral Challenges

Students experiencing behavioral concerns that interfere with their ability to participate successfully in school.

Declining Academic Performance

Students whose academic performance may be affected by mental health, behavioral, family, or other underlying challenges.

The program seeks to provide schools with additional capacity to identify and address these issues before they result in more serious academic, behavioral, or health consequences.

Fully Funded Mental Health Professional

One of the most significant benefits of this opportunity is access to a fully funded qualified mental healthcare professional.

SBHSN manages the recruitment, placement, and support of the mental health professional, reducing the financial and administrative burden on participating schools.

The professional provides evidence-based mental health services directly to students on the school campus.

For schools struggling to hire or financially sustain school-based mental health staff, this component may represent substantially more value than the cash portion of the grant alone.

Additional Grant Funding

Qualifying schools may also receive:

💰 Up to $5,000 per year

Funding may be renewed through a five-year grant cycle.

💰 Potential Five-Year Total: Up to $25,000

This discretionary funding is intended to support student service initiatives aligned with the objectives of the Principal Student Support Services Grant.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants may include:

• Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
• Charter school management organizations
• Charter schools
• Public schools
• Private schools
• Faith-based private schools
• Non-faith-based private schools

School leaders should carefully review the current RFP to confirm that their campus meets all program requirements before applying.

School Eligibility Requirements

Schools must meet several important criteria to qualify.

Student Enrollment

The school must serve at least:

500 students in grades 6–12

The program is therefore primarily designed for middle and high school populations rather than elementary schools.

Economic Need

At least:

70% of students must be eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch (FRL)

This requirement reflects SBHSN’s emphasis on directing mental health resources toward schools serving economically disadvantaged student populations.

Demonstrated Student Need

Schools should be prepared to demonstrate significant challenges related to student wellbeing and academic success.

The program specifically focuses on students with documented histories involving:

• Chronic absenteeism
• Behavioral challenges
• Declining academic performance

Applicants should provide clear evidence that additional mental health capacity is needed to address these challenges.

Geographic Focus

The Principal Student Support Services Grant is a nationwide opportunity.

Qualifying schools across the United States may apply, making this particularly notable for school districts and education organizations seeking mental health funding without a state-specific geographic restriction.

Grant Coordinator Requirement

Schools receiving funding must designate a staff member to serve as the program’s Grant Coordinator.

The Grant Coordinator serves as the primary liaison between the school and SBHSN and helps ensure the program is implemented effectively.

Responsibilities may include:

• Coordinating communication with SBHSN
• Supporting implementation of funded services
• Providing requested program updates
• Helping monitor student services
• Supporting reporting and progress review
• Coordinating with the mental health professional placed at the school

Schools should identify an appropriate staff member who has the capacity to manage this responsibility before applying.

Funding Amounts

The grant provides two important forms of support.

Mental Healthcare Professional

A qualified mental healthcare professional may be recruited and placed on the participating school campus with the cost covered through the program.

Student Services Grant

Qualifying schools may receive up to:

$5,000 per year for five years

This creates the potential for up to:

$25,000 in discretionary grant funding

in addition to the value of the mental health professional.

Match Requirement

No matching funds are required.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted several times each year.

SBHSN sets application deadlines for the first Monday of:

• February
• July
• September
• November

Next Deadline

📅 February 1, 2027

Organizations that are not ready for the September cycle may have another opportunity during the November application round.

Application / Request Process

School leaders should begin by reviewing the complete Principal Student Support Services Grant RFP and confirming that their school meets the program’s enrollment, economic-need, and student-need requirements.

Applicants should be prepared to provide information demonstrating:

• School type
• Student enrollment
• Grade levels served
• Free or Reduced-Price Lunch eligibility
• Student mental health needs
• Chronic absenteeism
• Behavioral challenges
• Academic performance concerns
• Existing student support services
• Need for additional mental health capacity
• Staff member who will serve as Grant Coordinator

Apply / Learn More:

➡️ https://sbhsnetwork.com/grants/principal-student-support-services-grant-rfp

View SBHSN Grant Programs:

➡️ https://sbhsnetwork.com/grants

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is particularly strong for schools that:

• Serve grades 6–12
• Enroll at least 500 students
• Have at least 70% of students eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch
• Are experiencing significant chronic absenteeism
• Have students facing behavioral challenges
• Are seeing declining academic performance connected to student wellbeing
• Need greater access to qualified mental health professionals
• Lack sufficient resources to independently hire additional mental health staff
• Want a long-term school-based mental health partnership rather than a one-time grant

The most important feature of this opportunity is that its value extends well beyond the $5,000 annual grant.

For qualifying schools, the ability to add a fully funded mental health professional can provide significant additional capacity to identify struggling students, deliver direct services, and address barriers to attendance and academic success.

Schools should therefore evaluate this opportunity as a school mental health capacity-building program, rather than simply a small cash grant.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Next Deadline: February 1, 2027
Deadline Cycle: First Monday of February, July, September, and November
Cash Grant: Up to $5,000 annually
Potential Grant Term: Five years
Potential Cash Funding: Up to $25,000 over five years
Additional Support: Fully funded qualified mental healthcare professional
Match: None
Geographic Focus: Nationwide
Enrollment Requirement: At least 500 students in grades 6–12
Free/Reduced Lunch Requirement: At least 70% of students
Best Suited For: High-need middle and high schools seeking additional student mental health capacity
Key Strategy: Clearly document how chronic absenteeism, behavioral concerns, and declining academic performance demonstrate the need for expanded mental health services.