MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Division of Public Instruction (DPI) was lately awarded federal grant funding to deal with Wisconsin college students’ psychological well being wants. The grant will go towards growing psychological well being employees capability in colleges.
The five-year grant, awarded by the U.S. Division of Training, is valued at $10 million. It’s a part of the 2024 College-Primarily based Psychological Well being Professionals Grant Program.
Constructing off the successes of DPI’s 2020 College Primarily based Psychological Well being Professionals Grant Program, this new grant will proceed to assist faculty districts in having enough psychological well being staffing. The DPI was certainly one of 22 grant recipients throughout the nation to obtain this funding.
Beforehand, DPI obtained a 2020 College Primarily based Psychological Well being Skilled grant. DPI was chosen as a pilot state for the federal program, which additionally supplied a five-year, $10 million grant.
Cash has been used to scale back the ratio of scholars to school-based psychological well being professionals by 14% in collaborating training companies. Practically 350 school-based psychological well being professionals have been employed because the 2021-2022 faculty yr. Moreover, enrollment in 9 College of Wisconsin graduate pupil companies certification packages has surged by 487 new college students during the last two years.
“I’m grateful for the administration in recognizing the pressing want to enhance psychological well being companies in our colleges. Collectively, we’ll work to make sure each scholar has entry to the assist they should thrive,” State Superintendent Jill Underly stated.
Acquired funds will improve recruitment, retention and hiring numerous psychological well being employees. With the intention to attain these objectives, DPI stated it plans to increase on-line certification pathways from highschool to post-graduate programming. Moreover, DPI stated it can develop a “Develop Your Personal” initiative to draw numerous candidates and broaden entry to school-based psychological well being professionals.
Venture initiatives may also prioritize attracting people who mirror the racial and ethnic variety of the Wisconsin inhabitants. Extra data on the 2024 College-Primarily based Psychological Well being Skilled Grant shall be supplied as soon as accessible on the DPI’s web site.