|
In these newly released briefs, we focus on three key components of school-based mental health:
In each brief, we spotlight states using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) dollars to invest in these components and offer key recommendations.
--
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the mental health challenges of youth and young adults, many of whom struggled to access mental health services even before the pandemic. Despite the high levels of need, many young people don’t have access to culturally relevant mental health services due to cost, access, and other barriers. School-based mental health services offer a promising strategy in addressing the high levels of unmet need.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress appropriated funds for schools primarily through the new Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). The American Rescue Plan allocated $122 billion for school reopening. ESSER funding offers an opportunity to invest in the mental health of young people; however, schools must be intentional about substantially investing in student mental health.
The U.S. Department of Education required each state to submit a reopening plan outlining how they were using and planned on using ESSER funds. CLASP conducted an analysis of 37 state plans to better understand if and how schools were prioritizing student mental health.
To learn more about ESSER funding, read our overview. Next week, we will release two final fact sheets on Collecting Mental Health Data and Authentic Youth Engagement.
|
