Rep. Katko Announces $2.5 Million in Federal Funding to Address Shortage of Mental Health Professionals in Schools

Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) and Superintendent of Schools for the Sodus Central School District, Nelson Kise, announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded $2.5 million to the Sodus Central School District along with Lyons, Newark, North-Rose Wolcott, and Clyde-Savannah School Districts over the next five years to bolster on-site mental health services with an emphasis on prevention as part of the Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Program.

With this award, the Wayne County School Districts, in partnership with SUNY Brockport and guided by the expertise of Jim Haitz and Wayne County Department of Mental Health will establish the Wayne County Community Schools Mental Health Demonstration Project--a program which aims to innovatively meet the mental health needs of nearly 7,000 students in 19 rural school buildings. The program will enable these schools to expand mental health services by increasing its capacity to train school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals.

"I am committed to addressing the gaps in access to mental healthcare for schools in our region. With only one third of those struggling with mental illness receiving the appropriate treatment, it is imperative that we take immediate steps to bolster our mental health workforce and ensure children living in underserved communities have access to early intervention services and preventative mental health programming," said Rep. John Katko. "This funding will expand Wayne County's offerings of on-site mental health promotion and prevention services, enabling the schools to better address the mental health needs of nearly 7,000 students."

"Sodus CSD is eager for this opportunity to work with our neighboring districts and our community partners to help make our schools more safe and supportive," said Nelson Kise, Superintendent of Schools. "Wayne County is positioned to lead development of a Community Schools approach that models how to bring Mental Health, Law Enforcement, Education and other partners like colleges and local non-profits together to focus on common goals."

In Congress, Rep. Katko has prioritized improving mental health services in schools and worked to increase the number of mental health practitioners in the field:

Rep. Katko introduces bipartisan legislation to increase number of mental healthcare professionals practicing in underserved communities.
Rep. Katko introduces the Mental Health Services for Students Act, to improve mental health services for youth in schools nationwide.

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