The Aspen School District (ASD) is gearing up to apply for a share of a $1.6 million annual grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This funding, allocated to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), aims to bolster mental health resources across schools in the state over the next five years.
Addressing Rising Mental Health Needs
According to Katherine Sand, Director of Aspen Family Connections, this opportunity aligns with the district’s commitment to supporting students’ emotional well-being. Aspen Family Connections, a department within ASD, already provides critical services, including emotional support, financial aid, and academic resources.
“We never want to neglect an opportunity to improve the situation of our students,” Sand said, emphasizing the need for specialized attention for underserved groups, such as Aspen’s Latino population, which faces heightened mental health challenges.
Colorado’s Mental Health Crisis
The grant aims to address a significant mental health crisis among Colorado’s youth. CDE Communications Director Jeremy Meyer highlighted that the state grapples with rising suicide rates and substance use among young people, particularly in rural areas.
In 2022, the suicide rate for Colorado youth aged 10–14 was twice the national average (4.6 per 100,000), according to the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention.
Colorado ranks in the top 12 states for high school suicide attempts and reported suicidal thoughts, as well as in the top five for marijuana and alcohol use among high school students, per the CDC.
“Schools are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap,” Meyer said, noting the critical role school districts play in providing accessible mental health services.
Strategic Grant Allocation
The CDE’s five-year plan focuses on adding 1,375 school-based mental health professionals statewide. Key initiatives include:
Respecializing Clinical Workers: Training 75 clinical workers annually to serve in school settings.
Recruitment: Attracting 100 out-of-state school-based mental health professionals each year.
Retention: Securing 100 culturally responsive supervisors per year.
Training Stipends: Providing financial support for developing school-based mental health professionals.
“These funds will allow school districts to expand access to the services our students need to thrive,” said Susana Córdova, Colorado Commissioner of Education.
Efforts in Aspen
Although Sand did not specify how ASD would allocate the funding if awarded, she acknowledged the district’s ongoing efforts to address disparities and community-specific challenges.
For instance, the district is tackling issues like food insecurity and financial stress, which disproportionately impact certain families. Despite Aspen’s affluent image, many students live in households where parents juggle multiple jobs, Sand said.
Positive Trends in Mental Health
Encouragingly, Pitkin County students have reported fewer suicidal thoughts and less debilitating sadness since the pandemic. In 2021, 40.1% of youth in the region experienced prolonged sadness, but this dropped to 24.9% in 2023—the lowest rate in a decade, according to the Colorado Healthy Kids Survey.
Sand attributed this improvement to the community’s proactive mental health initiatives, such as:
Hope Squad: A peer-led mental health program fostering student discussions on emotional well-being and suicide prevention.
Clinicians in Schools: Each school in the district has a dedicated clinician from the Aspen Hope Center to assist students in crisis.
Future Initiatives
ASD plans to apply for additional state grants in January to further combat vaping and promote positive peer interactions and social norms.
While challenges persist, these collective efforts reflect a robust commitment to fostering resilience and mental health among Aspen’s youth.
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