Dear john,

Today, I announced $7,200,000 for Serving Children and Adults in Need (SCAN) and Laredo Independent School District (LISD) to implement the SCAN-LISD Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (AWARE) Project in Laredo. Through the project, SCAN will provide school-based services to improve mental health and combat substance use among students in Laredo ISD.

Due to the shortage of mental health professionals – psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed counselors – children in Webb County face significant barriers to mental health identification and treatment. Furthermore, as a border community, we face unique social and political challenges that increase vulnerability.

This federal funding addresses the problem by allowing a quality organization, like SCAN, to work directly with our schools to implement crucial prevention strategies. With the SCAN-LISD AWARE Project, students, staff, and their families don’t have to travel outside of their school district to seek the mental health resources they require. I want to thank SCAN CEO, Isela Dabdoub, and LISD Superintendent, Sylvia Rios, for their leadership in addressing this important issue within our community.

“SCAN is excited to have been awarded this funding from SAMHSA to implement the SCAN-LISD AWARE Project. This project in partnership with the LISD will expand SCAN prevention, intervention, and treatment services in LISD schools,” said SCAN CEO Isela Dabdoub.

“We are fortunate to be supported by a community who believes it is our responsibility to support the academic as well as the mental health of our students as they pursue their education and career goals in our schools.  On behalf of the LISD Board of Trustees and our LISD community, we are grateful for this grant award and for the opportunity to work with our community partners, “ said Dr. Sylvia G. Rios, LISD Superintendent of Schools.