The Oakland County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve a plan to provide $10.1 million in grants to county public schools to help fund mental health assistance for students.
The county is allocating the grants from the $28 million it received in federal COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Several commissioners and area school leaders held a press conference to give details of the plan on Wednesday, June 22. The commissioners are expected to vote on the plan on Thursday, June 23.
The grants may be used for:
- Additional mental health professionals in schools
- Training for faculty and administrators to identify students in need of mental health intervention services
- Programming to improve the social and emotional needs of students,
- Increasing the capacity of school-based mental health screenings or assessments
Deputy County Executive Sean Carlson, also a member of the Huron Valley Schools Board of Education, said at the press conference that there is a “desperate need” for mental health services in schools.
“This shows a real commitment to mental health,” he said, putting mental wellness on a par with physical health.
“This is the largest county-school district partnership anywhere in the state,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman David Woodward. “It’s coming from a place of love and compassion.”
The board will create an ad hoc committee consisting of two commissioners from the majority party, one from the minority party and two representatives that the county executive will appoint.
The ad hoc committee will develop the grant application, determine a due date, review the applications and recommend applications for approval by the full board.
