The Springfield City School District recently received a total of $234,818.23 as part of The Stronger Connections Grant Award program through the Ohio Department of Education. The majority of the funds at the District level will be used to support student mental health and staff professional development.
Specifically, the District will expand 1:1 and small group counseling and coaching to students in all grade levels, extend online counseling services to high school students, provide more focused attention to specialized groups (including students classified as McKinney-Vento and English Language Learners), partner with nonpublic schools in the area so students who live in the District but attend these schools will also receive needed mental health services, support student-led groups in SCSD buildings that are focused on improving student mental health and host parent workshops to give families the necessary tools to support their students.
“It is becoming more and more evident how critical these services are for our students, including our vulnerable populations,” said SCSD Superintendent Dr. Bob Hill. “These funds will go a long way to ensure that all key players in a students’ education are properly equipped with the necessary mental health tools to support their needs and help them succeed.”