New York State School District Receives HHS Grant for Student Mental Health Services

Spencerport school district in New York state has received a two-year, $400,000 grant from HHS to help provide school-based mental health services for school children, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports. The district is one of eight nationwide to receive the federal grant, which will help schools provide therapy and counseling services, as well as educational materials on topics such as the death of a family member, divorce, depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Spencerport officials anticipate that the district's Family Support Center will open in January of next year, the Democrat and Chronicle reports. Initial counseling will be free; however, if more extensive services are necessary, the cost may be covered through the family's health insurance, on a sliding fee scale or through another payment arrangement. "We want to make sure no family is denied services because of financial circumstances," Mark Fish, a Spencerport counselor and certified family therapist, said, adding that the center hopes to provide mental health services to 100 students and families in the first year and more each year as the program becomes more well-known throughout the community. District officials believe the program will make students feel more comfortable and provide them with easier access to quality care. Other school districts in New York are offering similar programs, including the Rochester school district's wellness centers, and increasingly, more districts are "adopting a collaborative approach" in treating mental health disorders that "may extend beyond the classroom," according to Terry Hedges, Spencerport's director of student information services. "This involves not just the kids in the schools, but kids and their families in our community. It's just a pervasive kind of program that should help all of our residents," Gay Lenhard, supervisor for the Ogden school district, said (Orman, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 11/14).