HEERF Funds Can Be Used to Support Mental Health Resources
On May 19, the U.S. Department of Education released an FAQ document which confirms that Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) monies can be used to support the mental health of faculty, staff, and students. The document addresses commonly asked questions and provides specific examples on how some institutions have already used HEERF funding to improve their mental health programming and support.
While the document notes that institutions generally have “broad flexibility” to use these funds to create and maintain mental health resources, it does offer several ideas for acceptable use of HEERF grants to help your campus get started. These include:
- In-person mental health professionals
- Telehealth
- Wellness activities
- Suicide prevention training
- Peer support programs
- Mental health hotlines
- Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment
The performance period for the HEERF grants has also been extended and will now continue until June 30, 2023.
CUPA-HR will keep members apprised of any updates related to HEERF grants.
