May 28th, 2026 Local News
Jefferson City, Mo. (KFMO) - Mental health support services for young people in Missouri could soon look different as a national initiative plans to expand into the state in 2027.
The Youth Mental Health Corps announced Missouri is among 11 states expected to launch the program as part of a growing nationwide expansion focused on addressing youth mental health challenges.
The initiative trains young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 to provide near-peer mental health support to youth through schools, healthcare clinics, and community organizations. Program leaders say the model is designed to connect young people with accessible support while also helping develop the next generation of behavioral health professionals.
According to organizers, the Youth Mental Health Corps was founded by Pinterest and the Schultz Family Foundation and has been recognized by Fast Company as a “World Changing Idea.”
Program leaders say nearly 1,000 Corps members have already been trained nationwide. Those members have reportedly impacted more than 44,000 young people and community members through mental health support and related service programs.
Organizers say the initiative is expected to reach more than half the country by the 2027-2028 school year as additional states continue joining the effort.