Funding to help educators spot mental health problems in students is stuck in limbo. The Nebraska State Board of Education was supposed to disperse $200,000 in grants to help school districts pay for training.But members remain at an impasse. “It is one of the best trainings that exists to be able to ensure that people do know signs, symptoms and where to go for help,” said Grand Island Associate Superintendent Summer Stephens. On Friday, she appeared before the board during public comment to urge members to free the funds.”I ask you all to continue to figure out ways to support mental health education for our staff so that we can ensure that kids in our systems bloom,” Stephens said. Last November, GIPS applied to the Nebraska Department of Education for $75,000 under a new grant program that would help train staff on mental health first aid.”They’re not the therapist, but what rather, they’re doing is looking for those signs and symptoms,” Stephens said. But a 4-4 split vote by the board in February left all of the grant applications, including GIPS, in limbo. The four Democrats on the board voting yes. The four Republican members voting no. Some of the Republican members questioned whether the program worked.”The evidence seems to indicate that what we’ve been doing over the past five years or so is lacking in effectiveness. This Mental Health First Aid provides more of the same,” said Sherry Jones.Others wanted to see more parental consent.”I think we need to have some guardrails of what’s allowed and what’s not allowed,” Kirk Penner said.In 2023, lawmakers passed the measure as part of an education package on a 47-0 vote on final reading.Stephens said that money is even more important now with the uncertainty of federal cuts to mental health funding.”If we have to absorb what’s being cut at the federal level related to mental health, we have to be concerned,” Stephens said.The mental health grants were not on the board’s June agenda.Board members did not comment or say when the issue could come up again.The chairman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, state Sen. Dave Murman said he is willing to give the board time to work out its differences.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Funding to help educators spot mental health problems in students is stuck in limbo.
The Nebraska State Board of Education was supposed to disperse $200,000 in grants to help school districts pay for training.
But members remain at an impasse.
“It is one of the best trainings that exists to be able to ensure that people do know signs, symptoms and where to go for help,” said Grand Island Associate Superintendent Summer Stephens.
On Friday, she appeared before the board during public comment to urge members to free the funds.
“I ask you all to continue to figure out ways to support mental health education for our staff so that we can ensure that kids in our systems bloom,” Stephens said.
Last November, GIPS applied to the Nebraska Department of Education for $75,000 under a new grant program that would help train staff on mental health first aid.
“They’re not the therapist, but what rather, they’re doing is looking for those signs and symptoms,” Stephens said.
But a 4-4 split vote by the board in February left all of the grant applications, including GIPS, in limbo.
The four Democrats on the board voting yes. The four Republican members voting no.
Some of the Republican members questioned whether the program worked.
“The evidence seems to indicate that what we’ve been doing over the past five years or so is lacking in effectiveness. This Mental Health First Aid provides more of the same,” said Sherry Jones.
Others wanted to see more parental consent.
“I think we need to have some guardrails of what’s allowed and what’s not allowed,” Kirk Penner said.
In 2023, lawmakers passed the measure as part of an education package on a 47-0 vote on final reading.
Stephens said that money is even more important now with the uncertainty of federal cuts to mental health funding.
“If we have to absorb what’s being cut at the federal level related to mental health, we have to be concerned,” Stephens said.
The mental health grants were not on the board’s June agenda.
Board members did not comment or say when the issue could come up again.
The chairman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, state Sen. Dave Murman said he is willing to give the board time to work out its differences.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
link