Superintendents Dr. Rich Drolet, Dr. Ingrid Allardi, Dr. Allan Cameron, and Dr. Jennifer Parson and Director of Wellness Dot Pearl are pleased to announce that their districts will share a $100,000 grant as part of an initiative to improve student access to behavioral and mental health services and support.
Four school districts — King Philip, Norfolk, Plainville, and Wrentham — share the services of regional Director of Wellness Pearl.
“Since 2019, these four districts have collaboratively applied for state grants focused on supporting students’ behavioral and mental health and wellness,” said Director of Wellness Pearl. “While King Philip will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant, the funding supports initiatives across all four districts.”
The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced that it was awarding $5,540,875 in grants to 60 school districts, educational collaboratives, and charter schools across Massachusetts to improve student access to behavioral and mental health services and support.
This funding can be used to create or expand comprehensive, integrated systems of student support and aims, through collaboration with families and educators, to build strong local school partnerships with community-based mental health agencies and/or providers.
“Cross-district efforts to enhance students’ behavioral and mental health — especially as they transition from elementary districts into the regional secondary district — are critically important,” said Director of Wellness Pearl. “With this grant, we can continue strengthening multi-tiered systems of support to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all students.”
This initiative includes, but is not limited to:
- Expanding and integrating social-emotional learning and trauma-informed practices
- Increasing mental health literacy and suicide prevention efforts
- Implementing universal mental health screening
“We have a mental health crisis that was only made worse by the pandemic, particularly for students,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “That’s why improving students’ access to behavioral and mental health care is a priority for our administration. These grants will help districts connect students with the services they need to be safe, healthy, and successful today and into the future.”
The state funding can be used to help strengthen skills to recognize and respond to mental and behavioral health challenges, establish cross-system coordination to improve integration of behavioral and mental health supports and ensure seamless transitions between schools and communities, and improve data systems to track efforts and impact. These grants also promote piloting universal mental health screening systems.
“A key focus is sustaining access to behavioral and mental health services through partnerships with community agencies and Care Solace, which connects students, families, and staff with appropriate care,” said Director of Wellness Pearl. “Additionally, this funding allows us to provide professional development for educators and counselors, as well as education and resources for caregivers to better support their children.”
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