Governor Lamont Proclaims Recipients of Faculty Psychological Well being Staff Grants

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02/02/2023

Governor Lamont Proclaims Recipients of Faculty Psychological Well being Staff Grants

State Releases First of Three Rounds of Grants to Improve the Variety of Psychological Well being Staff in Colleges Utilizing ARPA Funding

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont in the present day introduced that 20 college districts throughout Connecticut are being awarded $5 million in funding beneath a aggressive state grant program that shall be used for hiring and sustaining college psychological well being staff in the course of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 college years.

Administered by the Connecticut State Division of Training, the Faculty Psychological Well being Staff Grant is funded by cash the state obtained from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was authorised by Congress in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That is the primary of three rounds of grants geared toward rising the variety of psychological well being staff in colleges which might be being administered by the state utilizing ARPA funding. A second spherical – the Faculty Psychological Well being Specialists Grant – will quickly present grants totaling $15 million. A 3rd grant program will present $8 million to summer time camps and school-based summer time programming for psychological well being assist.

Awards for every district beneath this primary spherical vary between $101,973 and $324,000. Precedence was given to districts with a excessive ratio of scholars to highschool psychological well being staff and a excessive fee of pupil use of faculty psychological well being companies.

Governor Lamont mentioned, “Connecticut continues to offer essential sources to rent college psychological well being staff, which is particularly necessary in the present day due to the consequences of the pandemic and social isolation on our youngsters and lecturers. These grants are an necessary step in our mission to make sure that all youngsters and educators in our state have entry to the psychological well being companies they should succeed and thrive.”

Connecticut Training Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker mentioned, “The pandemic affected Connecticut college students not solely academically however socially and emotionally as properly, and we’re dedicated serving to colleges present necessary psychological well being companies to their college students, households, and workers. This funding will assist our colleges rent extra college counselors, social staff, and faculty psychologists, and we’re proud to assist this necessary work that handle the non-academic obstacles to studying.”

Senator Richard Blumenthal mentioned, “The well being professionals employed with these funds will little question make an infinite distinction within the lives of hundreds of youngsters and lecturers in our state. At a time when psychological well being companies for youth are wanted greater than ever, I’m proud to see Connecticut step up and dedicate federal American Rescue Plan Act {dollars} to extend Connecticut pupil entry to those important companies.”

U.S. Consultant John B. Larson (CT-01) mentioned, “With practically 80% of youth nationwide missing entry to the psychological well being care they want, school-based psychological well being companies play a essential function in breaking down obstacles to entry care and remedy. We handed the American Rescue Plan to make sure communities have the sources they want to answer the distinctive challenges they’re going through because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants will present the sources wanted for college districts in Middletown, Portland, and Wethersfield to spend money on recruiting and retaining psychological well being suppliers that may supply high quality care to their college students.”

U.S. Consultant Joe Courtney (CT-02) mentioned, “It’s widespread data by now that America’s youth want extra entry to psychological well being care and counseling, however throughout the nation a severe lack of school-based psychological well being companies has persevered for years. These federal American Rescue Plan funds are going to assist reverse that development in japanese Connecticut. The Rescue Plan directed federal sources straight to our state and native communities once they wanted them most, and this can be a nice instance of how these sources are nonetheless working exhausting for us in the present day. With this funding, our native college districts in Hebron, Mansfield, East Hampton, East Haddam, and Stonington will be capable of purchase the instruments, skilled workers, and programming they should present college students with the psychological well being sources and assist programs they deserve.”

U.S. Consultant Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) mentioned, “During the last two years, the isolation, college closures, financial nervousness, job losses, and studying challenges have significantly exacerbated present psychological well being challenges and created new obstacles to remedy. These Connecticut Faculty Psychological Well being Staff Grants will equip our colleges with the correct instruments, staffing, and academic programming to deal with these points for our youth. I’ve been a staunch advocate for elevated investments in psychological well being companies. This funding will put us on a path ahead to offer advanced and compassionate care in our faculty programs and can assist alleviate the burden of lecturers, directors, and oldsters to ship the well being care our college students really want.”

U.S. Consultant Jim Himes (CT-04) mentioned, “Any such funding is strictly why Congress handed the American Rescue Plan – to assist rebuild from the detrimental results of the pandemic. These grants will assist college students fighting their psychological well being by rising entry to councilors and programming. I’m glad to see a big quantity of funding going in the direction of constructing out a stronger assist system inside the Fourth District.”

U.S. Consultant Jahana Hayes (CT-05) mentioned, “As college students proceed to get better from essentially the most traumatizing interruption to their training, they want sturdy, dependable, and accessible assist companies. I’m grateful Governor Lamont and state leaders are utilizing American Rescue Plan funding to serve college students straight. Bringing extra psychological well being staff into colleges is important for youngsters to heal from the pandemic and supply them with a protected studying atmosphere.”

The recipients of the Faculty Psychological Well being Staff Grant are as follows:

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