Eastern CT schools receive funding for student mental health - see what your district got
Even though it’s been three years since the pandemic started, student mental health is still a big concern for lawmakers, and they wanted to make sure it’s supported for this new school year.
The state issued $15 million in grants for mental health specialists to 72 districts across the state for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 school years. This has been funded through the state’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, according to a press release.
Total payments for schools in New London and Windham Counties receiving the grant include:
$220,279 for the Bozrah School District
$160,698 for the Canterbury School District
$167,400 for the Columbia School District
$324,000 for the East Lyme School District
$232,000 for the Groton School District
$193,050 for the Integrated Day Charter School in Norwich
$297,909 for the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communications in New London
$162,000 for the Killingly School District
$209,774 for the Lebanon School District
$230,709 for the Montville School District
$133,397 for Norwich Free Academy
$162,00 for the Plainfield School District
$139,860 for the Preston School District
$162,000 for the Putnam School District
$240,300 for the Scotland School District
$279,342 for the Sterling School District
$114,750 for the Stonington School District
$162,000 for Woodstock Academy
$67,905 for the Voluntown School District, and
$162,000 for the Windham School District, according to the press release.
There were also grants awarded in August for student mental health in the summer, meant to last three years. Recipient schools in New London and Windham Counties include $46,800 for the Groton School District, $120,398 for the Killingly School District, $108,333 for the Norwich School District, $40,500 for the Plainfield School District, $40,500 for the Scotland School District, $33,418 for the Sterling School District, and $70,046 for the Windham School District, according to a press release.
How grant funds will be used
Lebanon will use its funds to increase its social worker count from two to three, so one person can be in each of the district’s buildings. Though this is a convenience, it’s more important to ensure the mental health needs of students are being met, Lebanon Superintendent Andrew Gonzalez said.
“It doesn’t seem like much, but in a small district like Lebanon, it’s going to make a big difference,” he said.
Before this funding, one of the social workers was split between the middle and elementary school, but increasing need became too much for one person to manage schools. There would be times families would want to speak to the social worker, but they weren’t available. The families were directed to the school psychologist or building principal instead, Gonzalez said.
The pandemic brought student mental health needs to light, and it’s important for the government to support these services, Gonzalez said.
“If our students aren’t feeling safe or welcomed in our schools, they’re not going to be able to focus on academics or building relationships,” he said.
Norwich Free Academy will use funds to support existing programs
Norwich Free Academy is still finalizing its plans for the money, but it will continue to support existing efforts. Currently, the school employs four school psychologists, six social workers, and 12 school guidance counselors, and is looking for another, Communications Director Mike O’Farrell stated in an email.
“We have support teams for each grade, and work collaboratively to support the needs of our students,” he stated.
Anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation and poor decision making related to social media are top concerns reported among NFA students. With this demand, the school needs to continue having mental health resources available, as community resources often have waiting lists, O’Farrell stated.
“We need to continue to collaborate with our community partners and work together to support our students and families,” he stated. “We need to foster relationships with families and connect families to community resources in the best way possible to help our kids.”
Three years after the pandemic, there are still schools around the state that don’t have all their students back in person. Supporting mental health services is a way for the districts to continue bringing students back to in-person learning, and address issues for the students and families at an convenient location. Mental health became an underground issue over the years, so it needs to be brought forward again and be addressed, State Senator Cathy Osten said.
“If we are going to recognize mental health, we have to recognize that it needs resources, and (student mental health grants) provide these resources,” she said.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Connecticut funding student mental health around the state
