The Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC) is a collaborative initiative designed to expand access to youth mental health services while building a strong, diverse behavioral health workforce.
In Arkansas, YMHC is powered by cross-sector partnerships that bring together higher education, state agencies, schools, community organizations, and national philanthropy. Led by Engage Arkansas, these partnerships align the education, service, and workforce systems to expand youth mental health support and build sustainable career pathways.
Through this collaborative approach, trained AmeriCorps Service Volunteers ages 18-24 are placed in schools and community settings where they serve as trusted supports for 13-18-year-olds, connecting youth to mental health resources and strengthening local systems of care. Nationally, the program has gained recognition for its innovative model, including honors such as Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award, demonstrating its early impact and continued growth.
- Visit YouthMentalHealthCorps.org to learn more about the national movement.
- Read the Arkansas Youth Mental Health Workforce Summit Report to learn more about Arkansas’s specific youth mental health and workforce needs.
- Explore WestEd’s evaluation of early YMHC implementation states.
- Watch firsthand testimonials from YMHC Volunteers.
Program Goals
Arkansas’s YMHC implementation focuses on expanding access to care while building a workforce pipeline:
- Increase early intervention and care navigation for youth and families
- Reduce gaps in mental and behavioral health services, particularly in rural communities
- Expand community-based supports through school and nonprofit partnerships
- Develop a scalable, statewide model for youth mental health service delivery
- Build a skilled, diverse behavioral health workforce pipeline
What Peers Do
YMHC Volunteers serve in a variety of school and community-based settings across Arkansas, where they:
- Deliver mental health education and raise awareness to reduce stigma
- Support care coordination and system navigation
- Assist with early identification and data tracking
- Build trusted relationships with youth through consistent near-peer engagement
- Support family & caregiver engagement by connecting them to resources, services, and local systems of care
Training & Volunteer Development
YMHC Volunteers aren’t traditional volunteers. They serve in structured roles with set hours, receive a living allowance, and gain training & career experience while supporting youth mental health. Before entering service placements, YMHC Volunteers complete foundational training designed to prepare them to safely and effectively support youth and families, including:
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Trauma-informed care
- Communication and engagement techniques
- Confidentiality, boundaries, and ethics
This structured, hands-on training is aligned with real-world behavioral health careers. Members continue to build skills throughout their service through ongoing training, supervision, and stackable credential opportunities at partner institutions.
Progressive Certification Pathways
Community Health Worker (CHW): Focus on outreach, education, and care coordination. Includes state-recognized certification and apprenticeship opportunities.
Mental Health / Behavioral Health Technician: Training in mental health conditions, therapeutic support, and behavior management. Prepares members to assist clinicians in care settings.
Qualified Behavioral Health Provider (QBHP): Advanced, supervised paraprofessional role. Includes standardized training aligned with Arkansas behavioral health competencies.
Career Pathways
YMHC participants begin as Youth Mental Health Navigators (AmeriCorps Volunteers), developing foundational skills and hands-on experience that connect directly to high-demand behavioral health careers.
Early Career Roles
Community Health Worker
Care Coordinator
Outreach Specialist
Family Support Specialist
Health Educator
Mid-Level Roles
Behavioral Health Technician
Mental Health Technician
Direct Support Professional
Case Manager
Program Specialist
Advanced Roles
Qualified Behavioral Health Provider (QBHP)
Behavioral Health Case Manager
Clinical Support Specialist
Behavioral Health Program Coordinator
Education & Long-Term Careers
Licensed Professional Counselor | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | School Counselor | Psychologist
Where We Serve
Arkansas Rural Health Partnership
Arkansas Rural Health Partnership advances healthcare access and outcomes across rural Arkansas—particularly in the Delta—by coordinating services, strengthening the workforce, and supporting community-based care. Through YMHC, ARHP brings mental health support directly into high-need communities. ARHP served as an instrumental partner in the development of the Arkansas YMHC.
University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Through its School of Social Work, UAFS is preparing the next generation of human services professionals and strengthening the regional behavioral health workforce. UAFS integrates YMHC members into training and field-based learning opportunities.
Arkansas United
Arkansas United is a community-based organization dedicated to empowering opportunity populations and underserved communities through advocacy, services, and leadership development. Currently a subsite partner, Arkansas United is preparing to launch its own statewide YMHC program in 2027.
Arkansas Crisis Center (Launching 2027)
Arkansas Crisis Center provides 24/7 crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and emotional support through phone, text-to-chat, and online services, with a strong focus on reaching teens and young people across the state. Through a planning grant, the organization is preparing to expand its impact as a future YMHC host organization by placing members at sites across Northwest Arkansas.
National Partners
The Youth Mental Health Corps Collaborative, comprising ImpactAssets, the Schultz Family Foundation, and Pinterest, funds the nationwide YMHC initiative. YMHC was conceived by the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest and launched in partnership with AmeriCorps, America Forward, and State Service Commissions.
State & Local Partners
A coordinated, cross-sector approach brings together state leadership, community organizations, healthcare providers, and higher education to align systems, expand access, and build a sustainable behavioral health workforce. If you’re interested in joining the movement either as a host site, trainer, advocate, funder, or behavioral health employer, we welcome your participation. Connect with us!
