CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH) has awarded grants to 19 schools to provide Expanded School Mental Health (ESMH) services. These additional schools were selected through a competitive application process.
Clay-Battelle Middle/High School, Mason Dixon Elementary School and University High School will be served by Florence Crittenton.
Glade Elementary School, Hacker Valley Elementary School, Webster County High School and Webster Springs Elementary School will be served by On-Gauley Medical Center.
Arnoldsburg Elementary School and Pleasant Hill Elementary School will be served by Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center.
Belmont Elementary School, Blennerhassett Middle School, Jackson Middle School, Ravenswood Middle School, Ripley High School, St. Mary’s Elementary School, Ravenswood High School and Ripley Middle School will be served by Westbrook Health Services.
Williamson Elementary School and Williamson Middle School will be served by Williamson Health and Wellness Center.
These awards bring the total number of schools receiving grant-funded ESMH services to 93 schools across 30 West Virginia counties. BBH provides grant funding for 75 ESMH sites and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) funds 18 sites through two Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) programs through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant funds.
ESMH is a multi-tiered system of support where schools, families and strategic community partners work together to enhance student mental health in schools. The EMSH framework focuses on:
• Including the full continuum of prevention, early intervention, and mental health treatment
• Serving all students
• Building upon core programs/services provided by schools
• Emphasizing shared responsibility between schools, mental health providers and community partners
“We want every student to thrive,” said Christina Mullins, BBH Commissioner. “Expanded School Mental Health can improve the entire school culture for staff and students while giving more intensive mental health support to students in need. The Bureau for Behavioral Health is proud to invest in supporting schools and students.”
Every school can support a student’s well-being through ESMH strategies. To learn more about ESMH, visit https://wvesmh.org/.
https://therecorddelta.com/article/19-schools-to-receive-expanded-school-mental-health-services