BALTIMORE — Maryland state leaders are allocating up to $120 million to bolster mental health services for students from pre-K through high school, calling it a “historic commitment to mental health services.” The funding is part of the newly launched Blueprint for Maryland’s Future strategic plan aimed at improving the state’s school system.
The initiative’s primary goal is to “sustain and expand access to high-quality behavioral health services and support for Maryland students,” ensuring that young people have the resources they need to address mental health challenges.
These grants, which were first introduced last year, have already provided services to more than 26,000 students across more than 60% of Maryland’s schools. Since the spring, the program has been expanding its reach and impact statewide.
Edward J. Kasemeyer, chair of the commission responsible for distributing the funds, emphasized the significance of the funding in a recent statement: “The Maryland General Assembly has made a historic commitment to mental health services for Maryland’s youth. This funding will support critical programming across the state.”
Recent state survey data highlights the urgent need for such initiatives. More than one-third of Maryland middle and high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least two weeks or more over the past year. Specifically, 34% of middle school students and 36% of high school students indicated experiencing these feelings, underscoring the growing mental health challenges among the state’s youth.
These grants aim to provide essential services, ensuring that students have access to the mental health support they need to succeed academically and emotionally. The funding marks a significant step toward addressing the mental health crisis facing Maryland’s students.
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