Article Summary –
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will distribute nearly $12 million in federal funds to 40 local school districts to tackle student mental health issues. The funds are part of the Stronger Connections Grant Program under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that President Biden signed in June 2022. The grants aim to help schools implement comprehensive mental health strategies and services, with the maximum grant for a district with over 3,000 K-12 students being $400,000.
Wisconsin Provides $12M in Federal Funds to Boost Student Mental Health
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will distribute nearly $12 million in federal funds to 40 local school districts to tackle student mental health issues. The fund comes from the Stronger Connections Grant Program, a component of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in June 2022. Superintendent Jill Underly expressed her gratitude and emphasized the urgent need for more support for student mental health.
This news comes amidst a growing mental health crisis in schools across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows a significant increase in students reporting feelings of sadness or hopelessness since 2015.
The grant money will assist schools in implementing comprehensive, evidence-based strategies and increasing access to place-based interventions and services. According to DPI information, the funds are expected to promote mental health, early intervention, treatment, and crisis support. Schools have broad discretion in designating the specifics of the funds’ usage within these categories.
School districts must demonstrate a high number or percentage of students living in poverty, a scarcity of mental health professionals relative to student populations, and high levels of chronic absenteeism or suspensions to be eligible for the grant funds. The maximum grant for a district with over 3,000 K-12 students is $400,000; for those with fewer students, the maximum is $300,000.
The grant is intended for mental health initiatives, not for food costs or construction, renovation, or school facilities repair. Some of the school districts to receive the funding include Madison Metropolitan, West Salem, Sheboygan Area, and Eau Claire Area School Districts.
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