The Youth Mental Health Corps is a multi-sector partnership designed to support youth mental health while building the behavioral health workforce pipeline.
Our History
Conceived by the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest with input from hundreds of experts and practitioners, the YMHC works with established nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and healthcare clinics to train 18-29 year old Corps members to provide near-peer mental health and navigation support to middle- and high-school students, placing them in an array of settings to serve young people.
Launched in partnership with state service commissions, national philanthropies, and corporate partners, the YMHC leverages national service to expand support for youth while creating meaningful career pathways for young adults.
Who We Are
The Youth Mental Health Corps is a pioneering, bipartisan national service initiative built on a simple but radical belief: that young people are not just the population most affected by the mental health crisis — they are also the most powerful part of the solution.
Why We're Here
The Youth Mental Health Corps represents a new approach to mental health—one that combines service, workforce development, and community impact.
By investing in the next generation of behavioral health professionals, YMHC addresses an urgent national shortage while creating meaningful career pathways for the young adults who need them most. The result is a growing national movement where everyone — the young people served, the Corps members who serve them, and the communities that host them — comes out stronger. Together, we seek to:
Meet youth where they are at schools, afterschool programs, community health centers, and youth centered organizations.
Offer young people interested in supporting youth mental health with an opportunity to provide peer support while obtaining quality training, skills, experiences, and credentials to start a career in behavioral health.
Increase the capacity of schools, community-based organizations, community health clinics, and behavioral health organizations to respond to the growing youth mental health crisis and provide support for middle and high school students.
Promote digital safety and emotional wellbeing as essential components of youth mental health—online and off— by supporting healthy digital habits and helping young people navigate online spaces thoughtfully, safely, and with confidence.
Our Solution
The Youth Mental Health Corps trains young adults ages 18 to 29 to serve as peer mental health navigators in schools, community organizations, and health clinics. Members have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, training, and can earn certification and/or higher education credit, all while serving in communities with limited access to mental health resources.
Through trusted, in-person support, the YMHC helps young people navigate stressors caused by social media use, digital overload, and emerging technologies that increasingly shape how young people learn, connect, and view themselves. By recruiting members from the communities they serve, YMHC ensures Corps members bring personal insight, cultural understanding, and meaningful connection to their work.
Sheri Kersch Schultz
Schultz Family Foundation co-founder and chair
Our Partners
State Partners
In its first year in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Texas, the YMHC deployed 317 Corps members across 172 service sites, serving more than 16,000 young people. Now in its second year, the Youth Mental Health Corps is active in 11 states, having expanded into California, Iowa, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Virginia – representing 175% growth.
For the 2026-2027 school year, the Youth Mental Health Corps will be active in 16 states, with plans to expand to half the country by the following year.
Funding Partners
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Strategic Partnerships
We have created partnerships with Peer Health Exchange, Americas Service Commissions and Inside Track to provide additional support to state service commissions and members.
The Youth Mental Health Corps welcomes media inquiries as we strive to raise awareness and support for youth mental health. Our initiative leverages the power of national service to simultaneously address the youth mental health crisis and train young adults for promising and meaningful careers. By highlighting member stories, program insights, and innovative approaches, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the mental health challenges facing today’s youth.
For media requests, interviews, or partnership opportunities, please contact us at: press@youthmentalhealthcorps.org