PROVIDENCE – The state has received $3.9 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as part of a cooperative agreement to increase access to evidence-based, culturally responsive and sustaining trauma support services and mental health care in schools across Rhode Island.
Gov. Daniel J. McKee and R.I. Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green jointly announced Friday that the funding will be spread out across four years. The funds, McKee and Infante-Green said, will support the R.I. Department of Education to develop innovative statewide initiatives to raise awareness among school personnel and the broader school community on the prevalence and effects of trauma on youth mental health and school performance – particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on mental health.
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The department will collaborate with key education partners to provide more intensive support to local education agencies to strengthen mental health care and trauma support services, McKee and Infante-Green said.
This grant comes a few months after Bradley Hospital received an $8.6 million federal grant to increase mental health services in the Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket school districts. Last year, the state received $9 million in federal funds to expand youth mental health services in the Cranston, West Warwick and Westerly school districts.
“As students around the nation, we know Rhode Island youth are struggling with mental health and we’re working diligently to meet their needs,” McKee said in a statement. “This new funding will allow us to strengthen partnerships and enhance support systems so our students can thrive.”
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on Twitter at @James_Bessette.
