Kentucky Awarded $9 Million Grant to Improve Mental Health Services in Schools

Kentucky Awarded $9 Million Grant to Improve Mental Health Services in Schools

The Kentucky Department of Education and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities will receive $9 million in funding from the Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education (AWARE) grant.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • May 14, 2019

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), announced Thursday the award of a $9 million federal grant that aims to increase awareness of mental health issues among students across the state. Three districts—Warren, Bullitt and Henderson counties—will receive pilot project funding.

KDE and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities will receive the Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education (AWARE) grant. The funding comes from the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The AWARE grant funding will provide resources for Bullitt, Henderson and Warren County public school districts to implement district-wide mental health policies and processes. Kentucky is one of four states to receive this award.

“The mental health and wellness of Kentucky’s students is critically important,” Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis said. “This grant will provide support for planning and programming aimed at increasing awareness and providing needed training and services to support the healthy development of students.”

“Just as injury or illness can disrupt a student’s life and impede learning, mental health plays a significant role in a student’s social development and success in the classroom,” CHFS Cabinet Secretary Adam Meier said. “We are excited to partner with KDE on this innovative project to bring mental health services into more schools. It is critical that we address these issues so we can have safe, trauma-informed environments where all students can learn and thrive.”

The partnership between CHFS and KDE aims to improve mental health support in schools, provide Youth Mental Health First Aid training, implement trauma-informed practices and improve overall social-emotional skills for students. The project will serve 37,556 students each year for five years and impact 375 administrators, 3,292 school staff and more than 1,000 parents and community members.

“We know that one in six students experience mental health challenges that impact their academic achievement. However, less than half of them receive adequate treatment,” said Wendy Morris, commissioner of the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. “Partnerships between schools and local mental health providers allow identification and referral systems to be built so concerns can be detected and addressed earlier which creates the best opportunity to help the student. When our youth thrive, our communities thrive!”

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

Most   Popular