Brockton Public Schools Receives $100,000 Grant for Mental Health Initiatives

Brockton Public Schools Receives $100,000 Grant for Mental Health Initiatives

Brockton Public Schools has recently been awarded a significant $100,000 grant aimed at enhancing student mental health and wellness initiatives. This funding comes from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and is designated to support various programs intended to boost students’ emotional well-being.

The allocation of the grant will focus on several key initiatives that include family workshops, intervention programs for students, community partnerships, classroom resources, and professional development for staff. Importantly, $8,000 of the funding is earmarked for hosting workshops specifically designed for parents and caregivers. These workshops will provide support on mental health, social-emotional learning, and wellness strategies to reinforce students’ needs at home.

In addition, another $8,000 will be dedicated to offering specialized interventions for students participating in intensive academic programs, such as the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement courses, to help mitigate academic stress and absenteeism. The district also plans to collaborate with local mental health organizations, allocating $45,000 to provide in-school counseling, mobile crisis intervention, and comprehensive support for students facing significant challenges.

Classroom resources will benefit from $10,064.50, which will fund items like mindfulness tools and social-emotional learning materials essential for fostering resilience. Furthermore, $25,000 of the grant will fund training for educators and support staff in trauma-informed care, mental health awareness, and stress management techniques. The remaining amount of $3,935.50 will be reserved for administrative expenses required for the successful execution of grant initiatives.

Superintendent Priya Tahiliani emphasized the importance of this grant, stating, ‘This grant provides us with a significant opportunity to build upon the work we are already doing to support students’ social and emotional health and is a unique chance to develop new community partnerships so that this work can take root outside of the classroom as well.’ She expressed gratitude for the continued support from DESE and reiterated the commitment to effectively utilize the funding to target specific student needs.

With this newfound funding, Brockton Public Schools aims to expand its support systems, ensuring mental health and social-emotional resources are accessible within the classroom and communities, increasing engagement among parents, enhancing educator training, and reaffirming partnerships with local mental health organizations.