Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program (PMHCA)

The Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) Program is a federal initiative managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program seeks to address the pressing need for enhanced pediatric mental and behavioral health support by providing primary care providers (PCPs) with tele-consultation services, training opportunities, and care coordination tools. HRSA has a long-standing commitment to improving health equity and outcomes, especially among vulnerable and underserved populations, and PMHCA exemplifies this mission by fostering integrated care systems that bridge gaps in pediatric mental health care access. The core objective of the PMHCA Program is to improve the ability of pediatric primary care providers to identify, treat, and refer children and adolescents experiencing behavioral or mental health issues. This is accomplished by building or expanding state and regional telehealth access programs that connect PCPs with child and adolescent psychiatry teams. These teams offer real-time consultations, training sessions, and guidance in coordinating follow-up care with behavioral health specialists, all of which are essential given the current national shortage of pediatric mental health providers. The funding scope includes supporting state and local governments, tribal entities, and special districts to establish or enhance these pediatric mental health teleconsultation programs. Allowable uses of funds encompass costs related to personnel, technological infrastructure, training materials, outreach activities, and program evaluation. Awardees are expected to implement structured telehealth models that improve early diagnosis and intervention, particularly in underserved and rural areas where access to pediatric mental health care remains limited. There is a required cost-sharing or matching component, underscoring the importance of local and state investment in sustaining these services. Eligible applicants for this grant include a wide range of governmental and tribal entities. Specifically, the program is open to state, county, city, township, and special district governments, as well as Native American tribal governments (both federally recognized and other tribal organizations). Additionally, applicants must be domestic entities located in one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, or the freely associated states. This inclusive eligibility framework allows for broad participation while ensuring that funded initiatives are rooted in local needs and capabilities. Applications for this round of funding are forecasted to open on April 15, 2026, with a submission deadline of June 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. ET. Awards are expected to be announced by August 31, 2026, and projects are set to begin on September 30, 2026. The program forecasts funding for 22 awards with a total estimated program budget of $9,790,000. The maximum award per entity is $445,000. Due to the matching requirement, applicants must plan to demonstrate appropriate local contributions, though specific match ratios were not disclosed in the forecast notice. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor HRSA’s official communications for the final Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). For additional information or clarification, applicants may contact the Maternal and Child Health Bureau - Division of Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development at (301) 443-0754. The PMHCA program is part of a recurring federal effort and is listed under Assistance Listing 93.828. As a forecasted opportunity, organizations should use this lead time to prepare internal resources and secure necessary partnerships to meet both the technical and matching requirements ahead of the expected opening date.