The University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) has awarded six Behavioral Health Seed Grants to support innovative research addressing some of the most pressing behavioral health challenges facing Minnesota and the nation. The grants are part of the SPH Behavioral Health Seed Grant Fund, an initiative designed to support research with a strong likelihood of informing behavioral health policies and practices, funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

The following research projects, along with their principal investigators, were selected for Phase 1 funding:

• Rapid and Accurate Early Detection of Behavioral Health Conditions in Rural Children and Families, (Professor Saonli Basu). The project will develop and test electronic health record-based tools to help primary care providers identify autism and other behavioral health conditions earlier, particularly for children in rural communities.
• Expansion of the Collaborative Care Model in Rural Minnesota, (James A. Hamilton Professor of Healthcare Management Timothy J. Beebe). The project will evaluate how an evidence-based model that integrates mental health care into primary care can be successfully implemented and expanded across rural Minnesota.
• From First Aid to Prevention: A Task-Sharing Training Intervention to Expand the Power of Youth Mental Health Promotion in Out-of-School Time, (Assistant Professor Katherine Hendel). SPH researchers will partner with YMCA programs to train out-of-school-time staff to better support children’s emotional well-being and promote mental health before crises occur.
• Advancing Healing in Minnesota by Bridging Rural Divides Over Approaches to Violence Prevention, (Assistant Professor Patricia Jewett). The project aims to bring together rural firearm owners and non-owners to identify common ground and develop community-informed approaches to reducing firearm violence.
• Adapting and Evaluating the Acceptability of a Family-Centered Youth Mental Health Intervention for Black Immigrant Families, (Assistant Professor J’Mag Karbeah). The project adapts a culturally grounded mental health intervention to better support Black immigrant youth and families facing discrimination and mental health challenges.
• Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to Finance Long-Acting Injectable Behavioral Health Drugs for Unhoused Patients in Minneapolis, (Associate Professor Sayeh Nikpay). The project will examine how public health agencies can use innovative financing strategies to expand access to behavioral health medications for people experiencing homelessness.

The six projects received a combined $888,290 in funding through the inaugural round of the Behavioral Health Seed Grant Fund.

“These six awarded projects, selected through a highly competitive process, represent the cutting edge of behavioral health innovation,” said SPH Professor and Associate Dean for Research Nancy Sherwood. “From youth mental health to rural care access, our SPH investigators are tackling urgent crises with bold, community-centered science. We are thrilled to launch Phase 1 and cannot wait to see how this crucial research shapes future health policy in Minnesota and beyond.”

Funding is provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, as part of Blue Cross’ long-term commitment to support innovative behavioral health research that advances population well-being.

All projects were selected through a competitive review process that evaluated scientific rigor, feasibility, expertise and potential impact. Awardees will receive up to $150,000 over 15 months, and may become eligible for Phase 2 funding of up to $500,000 to support larger-scale research.

The funded projects began on July 1, 2026.