Monongalia County schools receiving grants for expanded mental health services

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — 4 Monongalia County colleges are amongst these within the state receiving grants to develop psychological well being companies.

The West Virginia Division of Well being and Human Sources’ Bureau for Behavioral Well being is administering the funds to 19 West Virginia colleges. 

Bureau for Behavioral Well being commissioner Christina Mullins stated the grant-awarding course of is aggressive.

“The faculties that get these grants have actually demonstrated to our crew right here at DHHR that they’re prepared for these companies and so they’ve put within the work forward of time to get this grant and get these funds,” Mullins stated.

Clay-Battelle Center/Excessive Faculty, Mason Dixon Elementary, and College Excessive Faculty can be served by Florence Crittenton, a relationship-based group.

College students may have entry to a variety of prevention and intervention companies.

Monongalia County Colleges Superintendent Eddie Campbell stated present problems with many college students have been made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Due to the decrease inhabitants of scholars in our western finish of the county, we don’t essentially have the assets we have to have,” he stated.

Campbell added, “They are going to have prevention companies within the colleges for all children. All children get the prevention companies. If a instructor or different faculty personnel notices conduct they’re involved about they’ll get focused interventions.”

Mullins stated permitting such companies in West Virginia will cut back response time to potential conditions and permit officers to observe developments higher.

“They’ll be capable to have counseling and different extra intensive companies obtainable on the faculty for them,” she stated. “I feel that’s actually essential as a result of it minimizes time away from the classroom.”