01.31.23
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Consultant Danny Davis (D-IL-07) as we speak introduced the awarding of two federal grants totaling $7.2 million to the Illinois State Board of Training (ISBE) and Chicago Public Faculties for growing pupil psychological well being and trauma-informed care providers in colleges throughout the state. These grants had been awarded by the Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Providers Administration (SAMHSA) by the Challenge AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Training) program.
“Even earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, youngsters throughout America confronted a critical psychological well being disaster,” stated Durbin. “The trauma that too many college students face—together with from witnessing violence in our communities—can hurt their well being and tutorial success. Increasing psychological well being providers in colleges throughout Illinois will assist college students deal with their emotional scars and empower them to thrive. I’ve made it a precedence to extend funding for these packages to make sure youngsters in want have entry to assets that may assist put them on a path towards success.”
“Like so many people, younger folks throughout our state and nation are in want of further psychological well being assets to assist them take care of the aftermath of an unimaginable pandemic and a collection of historic occasions whereas additionally navigating their each day lives,” stated Duckworth. “Due to this, there’s an elevated want for trauma-informed, community-based and equity-centered remedy and repair. I’m proud that theBipartisan Safer Communities Act will assist present them and their households with entry to psychological well being assist that they deserve.”
“Trauma amongst faculty youngsters is without doubt one of the most urgent points impacting youth in America,” stated Davis. “As a public coverage, we are saying one thing must be finished about it. These grants will go a good distance to offer psychological well being providers and trauma-informed care providers in colleges.”
Challenge AWARE supplies aggressive grants designed to establish youngsters and youth in want of psychological well being providers, improve entry to psychological well being remedy, and promote psychological well being literacy amongst academics and faculty personnel. ISBE and CPS will use these funds to coach academics and different faculty personnel on psychological well being consciousness and find out how to join school-aged youth to wanted providers. Different actions could embrace school-based psychological well being and wellness packages and the implementation of evidence-based psychological well being interventions.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Durbin, Duckworth, and Davis supported, supplies greater than $3 billion in appropriations for college and community-based psychological well being and trauma-informed care. Durbin secured a further $250 million within the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act for community-based violence initiatives, together with bettering psychological well being entry.
Final July, Durbin despatched a letter to Illinois schooling leaders highlighting the federal funds secured by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act for psychological well being providers.
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