The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) announced on Monday that it has been awarded $10 million in federal grant funding to enhance mental health services for youth in schools. The grant, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, is part of a broader $70 million investment by the Biden-Harris Administration aimed at improving mental health support in schools for the 2024 fiscal year.
This funding builds on the administration’s previous efforts, which included a $571 million investment in K-12 mental health programs through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Wisconsin’s share is part of a $1 billion, five-year initiative that spans 23 states and other recipients, marking the largest-ever expansion of K-12 mental health services. Nationally, the program is expected to help train and hire 4,000 additional mental health professionals.
At the state level, DPI plans to partner with higher education institutions to train new mental health professionals within Wisconsin. Additionally, the department will distribute sub-grants to school districts identified as needing enhanced mental health services. The first installment of the funds, totaling $2.1 million for fiscal year 2024, will be allocated to the state’s school systems.
State Superintendent Jill Underly expressed gratitude for the support, noting the profound impact the grant will have on addressing youth mental health needs. “With this significant investment from the Biden-Harris Administration, Wisconsin is poised to make a meaningful impact on youth mental health and meet the growing needs of our students,” Underly said in a statement. “I am grateful for the administration’s recognition of the urgent need to improve mental health services in our schools.”
The grant comes at a critical moment for Wisconsin’s students. In April, Underly highlighted alarming results from the state’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which revealed that nearly 60% of teenagers reported feeling anxious, depressed, or suicidal on a daily basis last year.
As part of the funding initiative, DPI is promoting its “Grow Your Own” program, which encourages high school students to explore careers in school-based mental health services. The goal is to develop and retain homegrown talent to address the state’s growing mental health workforce shortage. The grant will also support efforts to recruit, retain, and diversify the pool of school-based mental health professionals.
Currently, Wisconsin faces a significant shortage of such professionals, with community and school-based mental health professionals in short supply, according to the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health. Nationwide, the Biden-Harris Administration’s funding is expected to add 18,000 professionals to the school mental health workforce over the next several years.
With this new funding, Wisconsin is set to make substantial strides in supporting the mental well-being of its students, addressing a critical need in schools across the state.
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