By Tiffany Williams –
Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced an initiative that will allocate grants to 60 school districts, educational collaboratives, and charter schools throughout Massachusetts, aimed at enhancing student access to essential behavioral and mental health services and support.
This funding is designed to empower schools to create or expand comprehensive and integrated systems of support that address the mental health needs of students.
The grants will facilitate collaborations between educational institutions, families, and local community-based mental health agencies or providers, fostering strong partnerships that are essential for effective student support.
By engaging families actively in this process, the initiative seeks to create a holistic approach to mental health care within the educational setting.
In tandem with these grants, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will provide targeted professional development opportunities for school district staff. This will enhance their skills in recognizing and responding to various mental and behavioral health challenges that students may face.
The funding will also focus on establishing cross-system coordination to ensure an improved integration of behavioral and mental health supports, enabling a seamless transition between different educational environments and community resources. As part of this initiative, there is a significant emphasis on improving data systems, which will allow schools and stakeholders to track the effectiveness of their interventions and assess the overall impact of these programs.
Additionally, these grants support the implementation and piloting of universal mental health screening systems, promoting early identification and intervention for students in need. This comprehensive approach illustrates Massachusetts’ commitment to prioritizing the mental health and well-being of its students, ensuring that they have the support required to thrive both academically and personally.
The grant recipients are:
ACCEPT Education Collaborative (Natick): $100,000
Assabet Valley Collaborative (Marlborough): $100,000
Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical (Marlborough): $100,000
Ayer-Shirley School District: $100,000
Bedford Public Schools: $148,575
Belchertown Public Schools: $25,080
Bellingham Public Schools: $100,000
Berkley Public Schools: $26,500
Boston Public Schools: $100,000
Bridge Boston Charter School: $59,999
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical (Taunton): $43,800
Brockton Public Schools: $100,000
Burlington Public Schools: $59,200
Chelsea Public Schools: $100,000
Chicopee Public Schools: $100,000
Danvers Public Schools: $100,000
Dedham Public Schools: $85,200
Dennis-Yarmouth Public Schools: $146,880
Everett Public Schools: $99,660
Excel Academy Charter (East Boston): $99,936
Fall River Public Schools: $148,545
Foxborough Regional Charter: $100,000
Gardner Public Schools: $100,000
Gateway (Huntington): $100,000
Gloucester Public Schools: $100,000
Hadley Public Schools: $84,000
Hampden-Wilbraham Public Schools: $100,000
Haverhill Public Schools: $100,000
Holliston Public Schools: $100,000
King Philip (Norfolk): $100,000
Lowell Public Schools: $100,000
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter: $70,000
Map Academy Charter School (Plymouth): $100,000
Medway Public Schools: $70,000
Methuen Public Schools: $100,000
Monson Public Schools: $143,420
Narragansett Regional School District (Baldwinville): $34,150
Natick Public Schools: $95,000
North Adams Public Schools: $100,000
Norwood Public Schools: $148,575
Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical (Palmer): $37,150
Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School (Lawrence): $100,000
Quincy Public Schools: $100,000
READS Collaborative (Middleborough): $94,140
Rockland Public Schools: $100,000
Salem Public Schools: $100,000
Salem Academy Charter: $99,260
SEEM Collaborative (Stoneham): $53,100
South Hadley Public Schools: $99,734
Southbridge Public Schools: $63,125
Springfield International Charter: $108,575
Springfield Public Schools: $148,575
Taunton Public Schools: $100,000
Uxbridge Public Schools: $50,864
Warwick Public Schools: $100,000
Watertown Public Schools: $100,000
West Springfield Public Schools: $99,127
Wilmington Public Schools: $75,000
Winthrop Public Schools: $50,000