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U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a former educator and principal, said the federal grants are vital in addressing the growing challenges facing young people.
A combined $5.2 million in funding was awarded through the Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program.
Miami-Dade and Broward County school districts, two of the largest in the country, will receive $5.2 million in federal funding to strengthen mental health services, Wilson announced Saturday.
The funding will support partnerships designed to train and expand the pipeline of school-based mental health service providers for employment in local school districts.
Miami-Dade Public Schools will receive $4 million, starting with $1 million in 2026, for its Project HOPE-SP, or Holistic Opportunities for Preparation and Excellence in School Psychology. The program aims to increase the number of credentialed school psychologists by supporting 34 graduate students through mentorship, financial assistance, and specialized training.
Broward Public Schools will receive $1.25 million for its Broward’s PATH Forward program, short for Psychologist Advancement and Training Hub. Over a 48-month period, the funding will support three current district employees enrolled in graduate programs, finance 23 full-time school psychology interns, and is expected to lead to the hiring of 15 to 20 new school psychologists.
Wilson, a Democrat from Miami Gardens, said the grants are essential in responding to the mental health struggles affecting children.
“We are in a mental health crisis in this country, and our children are carrying the weight of it,” she said in a statement. “Over the past decade, suicide rates among young people have been rising, depression is rising, and too many of our children are hurting in ways we don’t always see.”
She emphasized that schools play a critical role in delivering mental health services, particularly for students who lack access to care outside the classroom.
“When children spend the majority of their days in schools, we should have mental health professionals who can support them. And oftentimes, many children do not have access to mental health resources outside of school,” she said. “No one asks, ‘Are you OK?’ We don’t always know what our children are walking into when they leave school or what happens when they are alone with their friends.”
She also noted that low-income students, students of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and other marginalized communities experience additional stress due to systemic barriers that worsen mental health challenges, making access to care even more important.
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