CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (RW.Va.) and Joe Manchin (DW.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $1,660,220 from the Service Professionals Demonstration Program Department of Education Mental Health Center for Marshall University. The funding will support the training of school mental health service providers for employment in West Virginia schools and local educational agencies.
“Children are the future of West Virginia, which is why it is imperative that we do everything we can to ensure that they receive the best education and, by extension, the best school resources possible,”
said Senator Capito. “Mental health problems among younger age groups have increased over the last ten years, but counseling services in schools have not improved at the same rate. This grant provides Marshall University with the resources to train a new generation of mental health professionals who will make classrooms a place of excitement and learning for children.
“It is more important than ever that we work together to ensure every student in West Virginia has a safe and healthy learning environment, and strengthening school mental health services is one of my top priorities,” said Senator Manchin. “I am thrilled that the Department of Education is investing over $1.6 million in Marshall University to train mental health service providers and help address the shortage of mental health professionals for our children. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of the funding and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for resources to strengthen mental health services and support our students across Mountain State.
The Ministry of Education’s Mental Health Services Professionals Demonstration Program provides funding to build innovative partnerships between higher education institutions and local schools and education bodies. The program trains school counsellors, social workers, psychologists and other mental health professionals qualified to provide school mental health services, with the goal of expanding the pipeline of such workers in public schools to low income to address school mental health shortages. service professionals.
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