Senator Murray: “Students across Washington state are back to school and safely in the classroom—but our work continues to help get their learning back on track and support their mental health.”
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, announced nearly $1 million in funding going to Educational Service District (ESD) 105 in Yakima to expand access to mental health care services for students. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray helped secure the funding in the last end-of-year funding package via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Trauma-Informed Services in Schools grant program.
“Students across Washington state are back to school and safely in the classroom—but our work continues to help get their learning back on track and support their mental health. We’re in the midst of a mental health crisis, so I’m laser-focused on getting resources back to Washington state so our schools can deliver the mental health services and support our kids need—including by hiring sorely needed counselors and staff,” said Senator Murray. “That’s exactly what these resources will do, and I’m proud to help deliver these funds to students right here in Yakima at ESD 105. I know we still have more work to do to help students, schools, and families recover from this pandemic, and to address our nation’s mental health crisis, which is why I’m continuing to push for bipartisan action to help address our students’ mental health needs.”
“Senator Murray has continued to make youth mental health a priority in her efforts. We are thankful for her leadership and advocacy on this issue which have paved the way for our agency to provide amazing opportunities for the students of our region, as a recipient of this grant,” said Kevin Chase, ESD 105 Superintendent. “Our programs work hard every day to create new pathways to provide essential services for our students that are otherwise out of reach in their districts due to funding and other challenges. Knowing that our student supports team will be able to make mental healthcare accessible in more than five districts throughout our region gives me great pride.”
“We are beyond excited to be one of the few recipients of this grant! This essential funding will be used to fill a much needed gap in mental healthcare services that face students and their families across our region over the next four years,” said Emily Nelson, ESD 105 Student Supports Director. “These funds will help us provide a clinical mental health supervisor, behavioral health advocate, PBIS specialist, and 4 school-based mental health counselors to support the Highland, Naches Valley, Mabton and Mount Adams school districts and our own ECEAP and Head Start students and their families. Like other regions across the state, we have seen an uptick in mental health concerns amongst the students and families we serve since the onset of the pandemic. We’ve also recognized a disproportionality in the ability to access much needed mental healthcare services for our students of color and those who come from families who identify as low income. It is our hope that we will be able to ensure that all students have access to mental healthcare when they need it, without the long waits, through both in-person and telehealth visits.”
Senator Murray has consistently pressed for action to respond to the mental health and substance use disorder crises that are hurting people all across the country—and has been especially focused on the need to address the youth mental health crisis. She has championed efforts in Congress to provide more support for communities responding to the mental health crisis and fought to secure over $5 billion dollars for federal mental health and substance use disorder programs in the recent bipartisan government funding bill. The funding she secured included $101.6 million for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline to successfully transition to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a $77.6 million increase.
Senator Murray has also chaired several hearings to examine our nation’s mental health challenges, and is working in the Senate to address this crisis by advancing bipartisan mental health and substance use disorder legislation that strengthens mental health services for children and youth, continues improving suicide screening and prevention to save lives, makes it easier for people to get mental health services, and much more.
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