NC Public Schools awarded more than $11 million to expand mental health services
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was awarded more than $11 million in federal funding. The funding is to strengthen school-based mental health services.
The two grants received will support school psychology training, recruitments and retention efforts, with a focus on high-need and rural school districts.
This is part of more than $208 million awarded nationwide through the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Program and the School-Based Mental Health Services Program.
“It is clear that mental health support is crucial for North Carolina’s public schools to fully support and nurture students,” said State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “These funds will allow our state to not only better serve our students, but also strengthen this essential talent pipeline.”
The grant will provide $4.8 million over four years for the NC School Psychology Internship Program, known as NC SPIn. A project designed to expand access to school psychologists by funding salary and housing stipends.
North Carolina was also awarded $6.4 million over four years through the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant to support the NC School Psychologists Supporting our Students (SoS) project. This will increase the number of school psychologists serving high-need districts by providing recruitment and retention stipends.
