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School Health Professional Grant Program (SHPG)
The School Health Professional Grant Program (SHPG) is designed to provide funds to eligible education providers (School District, Board of Cooperative Services (BOCES), Charter Schools authorized by a School District, and Charter Schools authorized by the Charter School Institute (CSI)) to enhance the presence of school health professionals in K-12 schools (Behavioral Health Care Professional Matching Grant Program (§§ 22-96-101 — 22-96-105))
A “School Health Professional” (SHP) is a state-licensed or state-certified school nurse or other state-licensed or state-certified health professionals, including those issued by the Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA)*, qualified under state law to provide support services to children and adolescents, including mental health professionals licensed pursuant to Article 245 of Title 12. For example, School Nurses, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, and School Counselors (C.R.S. 22-96-102).
*Please note that this allowance to hire under DORA does not negate the federal rules under IDEA. Check on licensing requirements specific to your Local Education Provider (LEP)
Quick Links
2026-2029
Application Open
Funded Education Providers
The SHPG defined an eligible education provider as:
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A school district (on behalf of one or more K-12 schools);
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A Board of Cooperative Services (BOCES);
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A charter school (authorized by a school district or the Charter School Institute)
Grantees
News and Announcements
New! Colorado Project AWARE Resource Collection
The Colorado Project AWARE Resource Collection brings together resources created through the Colorado Department of Education’s Project AWARE 2020 and 2022 grants. Each tool and guide was developed in response to statewide needs and shaped by collaboration with educators, districts, state and local partners, and community organizations.
The collection is designed to help strengthen school-based mental and behavioral health infrastructure across Colorado. While not comprehensive, it offers practical supports that align with the Landscape of Wellbeing and Belonging within Colorado’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (COMTSS).
The following topics are included in the collection:
- The Landscape of Wellbeing and Belonging Implementation Resources
- Implementing Universal Mental Health Screening
- Recruiting and Retaining School-Based Mental Health Professionals
- Supporting Mental Health Literacy in Your System
- Strengthening Suicide Prevention in Your School Community
- Understanding Policies Related to School-Based Mental Health in Colorado
If you have any questions or would like additional support with any of the resources provided in the collection, please reach out to the Colorado Project AWARE Team at coaware@cde.state.co.us.
Note: Our webpages are undergoing updates. Thank you for your patience. If you need help finding something, please reach out to Liz.
Professional Development Opportunities
In-Person and Virtual - Moving from Assessment to Action: Using the Landscape to Strengthen Wellbeing & Belonging
Register for a free training that will support schools and districts in using the Landscape of Wellbeing and Belonging to identify meaningful areas of focus and move from insight to actionable next steps. Participants will leave with practical resources and clear next steps to support local planning and implementation of wellbeing and belonging within a multi-tiered system of supports. Trainings will take place in-person and virtually from February through April 2026. Learn more about the training opportunities and register for a training!
Please note, registration closes on
- Friday, February 20, 2026, for the Monument and Fort Collins training
- Friday, April 3, 2026, for the virtual training
Legislative Reports
According to the rules for the administration of the SHPG program, CDE shall submit to the Education Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, or any successor Committees, a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the information submitted annually by grantees (CCR 301-91(2.01)(7)). View the current and historical legislative reports below.
Previous Reports
Resources
- The Employment of School Mental Health Professionals in School Guidance Document (SB23-004) (PDF) - designed to assist Administrative Units in implementing Eligible School-Based Therapists. This document aims to support Eligible School-Based Therapists to work in coordination with CDE Licensed Special Service Providers and other CDE Licensed Professionals to provide supplemental support to students' social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health (Employment of School Mental Health Professionals, 2023).
Websites
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Colorado
- Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in Colorado - SBIRT is an evidence-based prevention and early intervention practice that helps identify, prevent and reduce unhealthy alcohol and other substance use in adults and adolescents.