Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Training Grant Program

The Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Training Grant Program is a statewide initiative administered by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and authorized under Minnesota Statutes Section 144.1509. This grant supports the development or expansion of pediatric mental health training programs specifically embedded in outpatient primary care clinics. The overarching aim is to equip pediatric primary care providers with the necessary skills, confidence, and awareness to address the mental health needs of pediatric patients, ensuring more timely, effective, and longitudinal care. The program targets healthcare providers such as pediatricians, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, including both trainees and currently practicing professionals. Grantee training programs must offer comprehensive components, including clinical assessments, pharmacological therapy, psychiatric consultation, and community partnerships addressing social determinants of health such as housing, food, and safety. Programs are also required to emphasize long-term behavioral healthcare and to establish or strengthen multidisciplinary teams. A total of $900,000 is available for this grant cycle, with MDH anticipating three awards ranging from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $400,000. There is no matching fund requirement. The grant period is expected to run from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2028. Grant funds are disbursed via reimbursement and must align with approved budgets and reporting. Allowable expenses include planning activities, training site improvements, program supplies, and personnel time. Indirect costs are permitted up to the federally negotiated rate or a maximum of 15% if no rate exists. Eligible applicants must operate outpatient primary care clinics and propose training programs meeting the following criteria: integration with mental health teams, delivery of psychiatric consultation, and development of community-based resource partnerships. Programs that overlap with MDH’s Health Professionals Clinical Training Expansion Grant are ineligible. Additionally, collaboration with higher education institutions and community agencies is strongly encouraged. Applications are submitted exclusively through the ORHPC Online Grants Portal and must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time on Friday, January 16, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted. A pre-application informational webinar will be held on November 5, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. CT. Questions must be submitted by December 31, 2025. Notifications of award decisions are expected by mid-March 2026. Awardees must submit quarterly progress and financial reports on January 20, April 20, July 20, and October 20. Grantees receiving more than $50,000 will undergo at least one monitoring visit and a financial reconciliation; those receiving more than $250,000 will be monitored annually. Applications will be reviewed and scored on a 100-point scale based on organizational capacity, project narrative, work plan quality, and budget clarity.

Ensure data collection strategies are clearly defined. Emphasize how trainees will gain psychiatric consultation experience. Use the Sample Budget Worksheet. Align program goals with measurable outcomes for timeliness and effectiveness of care. Attend the November 5 webinar for guidance.