U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (AL-07) has announced that Birmingham City Schools will receive a $3.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand access to school-based mental health services for students. This funding is part of the Biden-Harris Unity Agenda and builds on the significant investments made by the Biden-Harris Administration to address youth mental health, including the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA).
“Our K-12 schools are on the front lines of America’s mental health crisis, which is why it is so critical that we invest in bringing mental health services directly to our students,” said Rep. Sewell. “Thankfully, the Biden-Harris Administration is tackling this crisis head-on by overseeing the largest-ever expansion of mental health programs in our nation’s K-12 schools. This $3.1 million grant will be a game-changer for our Birmingham community, allowing more students to receive the mental health support they need and deserve.”
The grant funding will be utilized to enhance pre-service training for aspiring mental health professionals, reduce financial barriers to attendance, expand professional development opportunities, and recruit and train mental health professionals from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, it will provide stipends for interns gaining clinical experience in high-need schools.
“In Birmingham City Schools, we focus on equipping all scholars for success,” stated Dr. Mark Sullivan, Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools. “In our current post-COVID environment, this means we must meet the needs of the total child. This School-Based Mental Health Grant will help us provide much-needed services and support for all our students.”
Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, Rep. Sewell has collaborated with the President and Vice President to enhance the capacity of the education system to provide mental health services in schools. Today’s announcement follows the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, which Rep. Sewell supported. This initiative is part of a $70 million national investment aimed at strengthening the pipeline of school-based mental health professionals, aligning with the administration’s goal to double the number of school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals in schools across the country.
Related topics:
