Michigan Attorney General Joins Multistate Amicus Brief to Defend School-Based Mental Health Services

Strategic Insights -

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a multistate coalition to support schools facing the loss of federal mental health funding. The coalition has filed an amicus brief to challenge the U.S. Department of Education's decision to terminate critical grants established under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The brief highlights the urgent need to preserve access to school-based mental health services, particularly in underserved and rural communities. Attorney General Nessel warned that the decision would harm kids across the country and undermine years of targeted investments to improve school safety, mental health outcomes, and student success.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Department of Education's decision to terminate funding for school-based mental health programs is facing a multistate challenge, with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joining a coalition of attorneys general.
  • The affected initiatives, the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program and the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program, were created to place licensed mental health professionals in schools and build sustainable support systems.
  • Eliminating these funds midstream disrupts care and undermines years of targeted investments to improve school safety, mental health outcomes, and student success.
  • In Michigan, three recipients - the Michigan Department of Education, Grand Valley State University, and the Lansing School District - were affected, with grants aimed at increasing the number of mental health professionals in educational settings.
  • The Department's non-continuation decision will worsen the critical shortage of school-based mental health professionals in Michigan, leaving students with less access to essential mental health support.

Statistics:

  • 7 states, including Michigan, have joined the multistate amicus brief to support schools facing the loss of federal mental health funding.
  • The affected grants, the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program and the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program, were created to place near 100 licensed mental health professionals in schools.
  • Michigan has a critical shortage of school-based mental health professionals, with the non-continuation decision expected to worsen this shortage.

Sources:

  • [1] Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joins multistate amicus brief to defend school-based mental health services. Michigan.gov. (2025, July 10).
  • [2] Original text: https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2025/07/10/attorney-general-nessel-joins-multistate-amicus-brief