Today, the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation announced the launch of the Maryland Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC), a new service initiative that addresses the escalating youth mental health epidemic while cultivating the next generation of behavioral health professionals. This statewide initiative—developed in partnership with AmeriCorps, Pinterest, and the Schultz Family Foundation—trains and mobilizes young adults to provide near-peer mental health support to young people across Maryland.

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In its inaugural year in Maryland, 36 Youth Mental Health Corps members are serving in schools and community-based organizations across 10 Maryland Corps/Service Year Option host sites and two AmeriCorps programs throughout the state.

State officials report that over one-third of Maryland students say they feel “persistently sad or hopeless,” at the same time that the state faces a severe shortage of behavioral health professionals equipped to support them. To confront this growing challenge, Maryland joins 10 other states in deploying the Youth Mental Health Corps, an effort to expand the youth mental health workforce and meet students where they are.

Recognized by Fast Company as a "World Changing Idea," the Youth Mental Health Corps trains 18- to 29-year-old Corps members to provide near-peer mental health and navigation support to young people, placing them in an array of settings to serve young people while members gain stackable credits and behavioral health credentials, building a pipeline of diverse, community-connected mental health professionals.

“The Youth Mental Health Corps will provide vital support to Maryland’s young people while strengthening the pipeline of behavioral health professionals our state urgently needs,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “This work expands access to youth mental health services, reinforces our service infrastructure, and creates meaningful pathways for young people to serve their communities while gaining the skills they need to succeed in the workforce.”

In its inaugural year in Maryland, 36 Corps members are serving in schools and community-based organizations across 10 Maryland Corps/Service Year Option host sites and two AmeriCorps programs throughout the state.

“The launch of the Youth Mental Health Corps represents a dual focus on both the well-being of our young people and the power of service to drive change,” said Jonny Dorsey, Acting Secretary of the Department of Service and Civic Innovation. “By mobilizing and training young Marylanders to support mental health in their communities, we are giving young people someone they can trust today while strengthening civic engagement and building a healthier, more resilient future.”

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.

“The Youth Mental Health Corps is proving that placing trained, trusted people where young people already are strengthens school communities and helps students get support sooner,” said Marie Groark, Managing Director at the Schultz Family Foundation. “In its first year, schools where YMHC members served saw fewer behavioral referrals and better attendance, more students sought support on their own as a sign of growing trust, and Corps members gained early exposure to behavioral health careers and earned valuable credentials, strengthening the future workforce pipeline.”

These early outcomes, featured alongside case studies in a report by WestEd, suggest that the YMHC model is not only addressing immediate student needs but also shows promise as a model for creating the systemic changes necessary for long-term impact.

“The Youth Mental Health Corps represents an innovative response to two urgent issues: rising mental health challenges among young people and a shortage of behavioral health professionals available to support middle- and high-school students,” said Alise Marshall, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs & Social Impact at Pinterest. “As part of Pinterest’s commitment to supporting youth mental health and safety, we are thrilled to bring this initiative to Maryland and are confident that local Corps members will be well-positioned to provide trusted, near-peer support to younger students within their own communities — helping ensure they are safe, seen, and celebrated both online and offline.”

Maryland YMHC members serve in schools and community-based organizations, focusing on promoting student well-being, peer support, and mental health education. Organizations interested in hosting a Youth Mental Health Corps member, supporting the program financially, or hiring alumni can learn more at the Maryland Youth Mental Health Corps website.

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“The Youth Mental Health Corps will provide vital support to Maryland’s young people while strengthening the pipeline of behavioral health professionals our state urgently needs,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore.