POUGHKEEPSIE – The State Office of Mental Health has awarded the Poughkeepsie City School District a $2.33 million grant to expand its mental health offerings to students and parents.
The five-year award will benefit students at all grades, said Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser, who noted it was awarded in part because of the stresses from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has always been our plan to extend the services and supports that we offer to our students understanding that children do best in school when their social, emotional and wellness needs are met,” he said. “We have always sort of approached this work in a holistic way.”
The grant will provide, among other things, school-based mental health clinics at the middle and high school through an expansion of a partnership with Astor Services for Children and Families, and student and parent engagement activities including mental health workshops.
The grant will also provide funding to hire a mental health awareness coordinator to oversee all project activities and track outcome data.
