FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 9, 2023

SEN. OSTEN WELCOMES $865,000 IN SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS FOR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today welcomed the news that $865,621 in state grants will be released to five 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, which was Sen. Osten and the Connecticut Senate Democrats’ top legislative priority that year and which aimed to address children’s mental health care statewide.

“Many of our young students, especially young women, are struggling with mental health issues like sadness, hopelessness, or thoughts of suicide, Young women are twice as likely as young men to have these thoughts. And there have not been enough resources for them,” Sen. Osten said. “My hope is this three-year investment will make a difference.”

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

· Columbia, $167,400

· Integrated Day Charter School, $193,050

· Lebanon, $209,774

· Ledyard, $162,000

· Norwich Free Academy District, $133,397

###