The national service initiative founded and funded by the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest has reached more than 44,000 Americans through the service of nearly 1,000 Corps members.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Youth Mental Health Corps, a groundbreaking national service initiative founded by the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest to address the escalating youth mental health epidemic while helping build the next generation of behavioral health professionals, has announced its expansion into 16 states for the 2026–2027 school year. Fueled by growing national and local support, including new investment from Ballmer Group, YMHC is scaling its innovative near-peer model to more communities nationwide — training and mobilizing young adults to provide trusted mental health support to young people where they learn, grow, and gather.
The stakes are high: according to Surgo Health, 45% of young people report mental health challenges — including rising rates of anxiety and depression — yet 62% of those who have struggled are not getting the complete care they need. A 2024 study by Mental Health America found that there is just one mental health provider for every 340 people across the nation, with only 27% of needs in mental health shortage areas being met — and rural communities and communities of color bear the heaviest burden.
“Young people across America are facing a mental health crisis, and young adults are uniquely positioned to be part of the solution," said Sheri Schultz, co-founder and chair of the Schultz Family Foundation. "The Youth Mental Health Corps puts that idea into action, training and paying young adults to serve as near-peer mental health supporters in schools and communities while giving them credentials, experience, and a clear path into a behavioral health career. The ground breaking results are inspiring. Governors in multiple states are joining us this year showing exactly the kind of innovative political bipartisan leadership this moment demands.”
Recognized by Fast Company as a "World Changing Idea," the Youth Mental Health Corps has trained nearly 1,000 Corps members and reached more than 44,000 young people and community members since its launch in 2024. An independent WestEd evaluation found that schools with YMHC members saw reductions in behavioral referrals, improved attendance, and an increase in students proactively seeking mental health support — an early indicator of reduced stigma. The results for Corps members are equally strong: nearly all have earned one or more stackable credentials during their service term, and 92% are employed or enrolled in higher education within six months of completing service.
“Young people are facing real challenges, online and in the world around them, and too many are doing it without the support they need," said Bill Ready, CEO at Pinterest. "At Pinterest, we believe technology should be positive and inspirational, but we know meaningful support can't stop there. We’re proud to support the Youth Mental Health Corps as it expands trusted peer support for young people, including in my home state of Kentucky.”
In its first two years, Corps members have served in 440 host sites across 11 states — California, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. For the 2026-2027 school year, YMHC adds Arkansas, Kentucky, Nevada, New Jersey, and North Carolina, bringing the program to 16 states. Additionally 11 more states are actively planning to launch in 2027, including Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. In total, YMHC is on track to reach more than half the country by 2027-2028.
“As a dad of two teenagers who I care about more than anything, the unique challenges that this generation faces are always front of mind,” said Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear (D). “We’re grateful to our partners including Bill Ready, the team at Pinterest, and the Schultz Family Foundation for this support and are committed to reminding every teen across our state that mental health is as important as physical health, they are not alone, and it’s important to ask for help when needed.”
"Nevada is proud to join this growing initiative to support youth mental health through the Youth Mental Health Corps," said Governor of Nevada Joe Lombardo (R). "This program will connect young Nevadans with trusted peer support, strengthen pathways to professional care, and create new opportunities for the next generation of mental health advocates and providers across our state.”
“Every young New Mexican deserves someone they can turn to, and every young New Mexican who wants to build a career in behavioral health deserves a straight path to get there,” said Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham (D). “The Youth Mental Health Corps delivers both, and we're proud to be part of it."
“Missouri is proud to celebrate ServMO joining the Youth Mental Health Corps to help strengthen youth mental health support across our state and build the next generation of behavioral health professionals,” said Governor of Missouri Mike Kehoe (R). “Expanding access to mental health resources for our young people is critical to ensuring a stronger, healthier future for our state.”
The YMHC is driven by national partners including AmeriCorps, America’s Service Commissions and a growing group of individuals and organizations who are committed to its potential to transform lives. Funders such as Ballmer Group, DreamMachine.org, Lululemon, Mae Philanthropies, Pivotal, and The Starbucks Foundation are helping expand the program’s reach, bringing this innovative model to more young people and communities nationwide.
“As a near-peer, I occupy a space that allows for a different kind of connection. At 23, I am close enough in age to understand my students’ world—their humor, their language, the nuances of how they communicate—while still being able to support them through it,” said Berkeley Wall, 2025-2026 Colorado YMHC Corps Member. “That shared understanding builds trust. It creates a bridge that makes it easier to reach what is actually going on beneath the surface.”
Alongside this announcement, the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest are releasing a new white paper, "A New Architecture for National Service" offering insights and recommendations for policymakers, funders, and state leaders seeking to replicate and scale the model. Drawing on two years of implementation across 11 states, the paper captures hard-won lessons about cross-sector coordination, sustainable financing, workforce development, and the role of private sector partnership in accelerating community-based solutions. At its core, the paper makes the case that YMHC represents more than a response to the youth mental health crisis — it is a blueprint for how national service can be redesigned to meet the complex, intersecting challenges of our time.
To learn more, visit youthmentalhealthcorps.org.
About the Schultz Family Foundation
The Schultz Family Foundation's mission is to create greater opportunity, accessible to all. Our work is deeply rooted in the lives and values of our co-founders, Sheri and Howard Schultz, who believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. We seek to apply the lessons they have learned over the decades to seed innovations and scale solutions to help young people successfully navigate the transition to adulthood and positively impact the trajectory of their lives. We are investors in unleashing potential and unlocking opportunity, working in partnership with employers, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and governments that share our aspiration of enabling everyone to access the full promise of America. Learn more at: schultzfamilyfoundation.org.
About Pinterest
Pinterest is working to build a more inspired internet and a better world, creating safer and healthier spaces online and in our communities. That means fostering positivity across our global workforce, inspiring progress in our industry and prioritizing meaningful climate action. To date, Pinterest has invested $30 million in its Impact Partners, who work to advance youth mental health and emotional well-being programs.
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