Grant to address mental health access in Okla. schools
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A 5-yr, $5.6 million grant software awarded to College of Oklahoma researchers intends to pay for 64 social workers, behavior analysts and counselors to attend graduate university if they concur to work in a rural, significant-need university for two yrs. The grant will address “essential shortages of mental wellbeing access and solutions for children in our public educational institutions,” says principal investigator Brittany Hott.
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Source backlink Oklahoma legislators recently announced a new grant that will increase mental health access in the state’s public schools. The $15 million dollar initiative will bolster school-based mental health services through the establishment of mental health centers, hiring additional mental health personnel, and providing training for school staff.
The crisis of mental health care access in Oklahoma is one of the most pressing issues facing the state. Currently, one in three children in Oklahoma have inadequate access to mental health services. With this grant, schools across the state will be better equipped to address mental health needs of students.
The grant will be administered by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, and the State Department of Education will provide oversight and technical assistance. According to State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, the grant “will place priority on rural and underserved communities and will further a collaborative effort to ensure students are better connected to mental health resources in their school and community.”
In addition to providing access to mental health services, Oklahoma lawmakers hope that the grant will also result in fewer costly interventions and improved academic performance. The grant will fund several initiatives such as case management, psychiatric intake evaluations, multi-systemic therapy, intensive home-based services, and crisis response teams.
The new grant marks a major step forward in the effort to provide mental health services in Oklahoma schools. It is an important step in recognizing that mental health issues are common and can greatly affect a student’s educational success. By increasing access to mental health services, Oklahoma’s public school system hopes to provide better future for students across the state.
