Commissioner’s Weekly Memo to Friends of Education
Prioritizing Mental Health Support
Even before the pandemic, national data showed a rising prevalence of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicidality, and other concerns. The pandemic has exacerbated this, and Rhode Island is hard at work making sure we meet the needs of our school communities.
I’m proud to share that the Ocean State has secured a five-year, $8.6 million federal grant to support mental and behavioral health in our schools. The funding from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), will support Bradley Hospital in participating in the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) partnership with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and RIDE.
We’ve made major strides breaking down barriers to access support, but there is still more work to be done so effective mental health care reaches all students, regardless of their zip code.
I’m thankful for our partners who collaborated to apply for this competitive grant and extend my gratitude to every educator and student working in our schools to normalize seeking support.
In partnership,
Angélica Infante-Green