Wilmington Public Schools Receives $45K State Grant To Support Students’ Behavioral and Mental Health

Below is a press release from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:

EVERETT, MA — The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced that it is awarding $3.2 million in continuation grants to 58 school districts to create or expand comprehensive, integrated systems of behavioral and mental health services and support for students. This funding aims, through collaboration with families and educators, to build strong local school partnerships with community-based mental health agencies and/or providers to create comprehensive mental health systems.

Wilmington Public Schools received $44,910 in grant funding.

“It is so important that we are supporting our students’ behavioral and mental health, and these funds will help our school districts do just that,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This investment will help students get access to the services they need to be successful.”

“We are grateful to the educators and community-based providers who are partnering and innovating to support students,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “When students have this support, it is easier for them to be successful academically and to build healthy relationships with their peers and teachers.”

This 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 foster 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.

“We know that schools are facing many student mental health challenges as we continue to recover from the pandemic. Student well-being is essential to academic and overall success, and grants like these help address some of our students’ critical needs,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.

“Our educators are working to create safe and healthy learning environments that are joyful, engaging and equitable for every child,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez said. “These grants will help provide student supports that advance that important work.”