FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) – The Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services have announced a $9 million federal grant to increase awareness of mental health issues among Kentucky students across the state and in three pilot school districts.
KDE and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities have received the Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education (AWARE) grant.
The grant will provide resources for three Kentucky school districts for the implementation of district-wide mental health policies and processes in Bullitt, Henderson, and Warren County public school districts. Kentucky is one of only four states receiving the award.
The partnership will work to enhance school mental health supports, provide Youth Mental Health First Aid training, implement trauma-informed practices and generally improve social-emotional skills for all students in the districts.
The project will serve 37,556 students annually for 5 years and impact 375 school administrators, 3292 school staff, and over 1000 parents and community members.
