Tell the Mayor and DC Council to Strengthen DC's Youth Behavioral Health Workforce

Muriel Bowser, Mayor of the District of Columbia; Council of District of Columbia

By signing this petition, you are joining DC Action and community members across the District in calling on the DC Council, the Department of Behavioral Health, and the Mayor to strengthen the youth behavioral health workforce, expand pathways for providers with lived experience, and bring mental health services into spaces young people already trust so that when youth ask for help, the system is prepared to respond.

DC Action will collect and share these signatures with the DC Council Committee on Health, the Department of Behavioral Health, and the Mayor’s Office as part of ongoing advocacy to close the gap between asking for help and getting care.
When young people ask for help, the District must be prepared to answer.
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DC Action

To: Muriel Bowser, Mayor of the District of Columbia; Council of District of Columbia
From: [Your Name]

Young people in DC are asking for mental health support — but too many cannot access it.

In DC Action’s 2025 youth mental health survey, nearly two-thirds of young people said they wanted mental health help but did not receive it. Many youth have tried to access care before, yet continue to face barriers including cost, long wait times, cultural disconnect with providers, and uncertainty about where to go for help.

These challenges point to a deeper structural issue: the District’s youth behavioral health workforce is not currently scaled to meet the level of need young people are expressing.
At the same time, young people consistently emphasize the importance of trust, cultural understanding, and peer connection when seeking support.

We call on District leaders — including the DC Council, the Department of Behavioral Health, and the Mayor — to strengthen the youth behavioral health system so young people can access care when they need it.

Specifically, we urge District leaders to:

1. Measure the Youth Behavioral Health Workforce
Direct the Department of Behavioral Health to track and publicly report the number of clinicians trained to work with transition-age youth (ages 18–24), including workforce capacity across Community Service Agencies and youth-serving behavioral health programs.

2. Expand the Pipeline of Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Mental Health Providers
Partner with local universities, training programs, and workforce initiatives to build a diverse pipeline of clinicians prepared to work with youth. This should include providers who reflect the racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds of DC youth and who understand lived experiences such as housing instability, system involvement, and trauma.

3. Invest in Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support
Rebuild and expand peer support pathways by certifying and funding young adults with lived experience of homelessness, mental health challenges, and other adversities to serve as peer navigators and mentors. Peer-to-peer models help destigmatize mental health challenges, build trust, and support young people in accessing and staying engaged in care.

4. Strengthen Youth-Centered Mental Health Access Points
Expand access to mental health services in spaces young people already trust, including schools, out-of-school-time (OST) programs, youth homelessness service providers, drop-in centers, and community-based youth organizations.
When young people ask for help, the system must be ready to respond.