FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 9, 2023

SEN. FLEXER WELCOMES $1.37 MILLION IN SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS FOR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

State Senator Mae Flexer today welcomed the news that a $1,371,683 in state grants will be released to seven nearby public schools to support the hiring and retention of school mental health specialists for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 school years.

The state recently announced the release of a total of $15 million in funding for 72 school districts across Connecticut, supporting the hiring and retention of school mental health specialists for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 school years. Grant values range from $25,150 to $120,000 in each of the first two years and 70% of that amount in the third year.

The grant program uses funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and it was just awarded to Connecticut schools as a result of the 2022 passage of Senate Bill 1, Sen. Flexer and the Connecticut Senate Democrats’ top legislative priority that year, which aimed to address children’s mental health statewide.

“We’ve just gone through a long and significant debate in Killingly about the need and the importance of mental health care for students. Parents made their voices loud and clear that this was a priority for them in Killingly, as I know it is for parents all across Connecticut,” Sen. Flexer said. “I’m overjoyed that a stand I took last year for more student mental health care is now coming to fruition for more than 7,500 public school students in the region.”

The following area school systems will receive mental health support funds for the 2024 through 2026 school years:

· Canterbury, $160,698.34

· Killingly, $162,000

· Putnam, $162,000

· Region 19, $164,840.40

· Scotland, $240,300

· Thompson, $319,844.70

· Windham, $162,000

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