County schools awarded $15.6 million mental health grant

School-based mental health services in Riverside County are receiving a boost after a U.S. Department of Education School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program awarded $15.6 million to the Riverside County Office of Education.

Students attending schools in Riverside County will have expanded access to mental health services through 2027.

“Mental health services are an educational imperative for student success, and this grant will expand access to school-based services for thousands of students from diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds,” Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez said. “The community looks to our public school system to meet the educational needs of all students, and the increased need for mental health services at local schools and districts will benefit students in the classroom, families in the community, and our region as a whole.”

The program will initially serve students in Jurupa USD, Beaumont USD, and Moreno Valley USD. In addition, students in local educational agencies across Riverside County will be served over the five-year span of the grant.

Three primary objectives of the grant include:

• Recruitment of school-based licensed mental health providers and interns
• Mental health service delivery
• Retention of mental health providers and interns through professional development, scholarship program, and other retention activities

Proposed outcomes of the grant through 2027 include increasing school-based providers from diverse backgrounds, increasing access by lowering the ratio of students to counselors, and increasing retention of current providers.

“As a former educator, I know from my time in the classroom that access to culturally competent mental health services is instrumental to a student’s success,” Rep. Mark Takano said. “I’m thrilled to see this robust funding come to Riverside County, equipping our schools with the resources needed to train and retain the mental health professionals that will serve our students.”