Available Now: $120M in State Grants for School Behavioral Health

Maryland has made $120 million in student behavioral and mental health services grants over the next year and a half.

Now available is $120 million in state funding via grants to aid counties and school systems in addressing Maryland’s students’ complex mental and behavioral needs. The historic funding is available for the next year and a half and was set aside to provide counseling and behavioral health services in schools and communities.

State leaders held a September 19 press conference announcing the opportunity.

Officials hope the grants will allow k-12 schools to partner with community-based providers to deliver services before Maryland children and their families are in crisis. The idea is to preempt emergencies and strains on schools, communities, and Marylanders.

At the September 19 press conference, Senate President Bill Ferguson said the grants should help “pull back the barriers” that prevent some students from seeking help for mental and behavioral health needs. He later tweeted:

We can’t just put it all on teachers. We can’t just put it all on principals.

We need support in the community to come into the school buildings and work in partnership to provide the level of engagement and support that kids need to be their best selves.

Grant application now open

Counties can now apply for the grants via the Consortium on Coordinated Community Care. Grant applications must be submitted electronically to Jen Clatterbuck (jen.clatterbuck@maryland.gov) by noon on October 11 2023. Grant awards are expected to be made in December 2023.

Resources

Application documents (required)