State Summer Mental Health Grant Earmarked For Schools In Union

UNION, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker Thursday announced the release of more than $2 million in grants for 36 school districts and summer camp programs across Connecticut that will be used to support the delivery of mental health programming for students during the summer months over the next two years. The local school district in Union was among those receiving funding.

Awarded under the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Summer Mental Health Supports Grant program, the grants for each district and summer camp program range from $17,000 to $85,000.

The Union school district is getting $36,040, Lamont said.

The competitive grant program is utilizing funding the state received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. This is the third of three rounds of grants the department has issued with ARPA funding that are aimed at increasing access to mental health support services for Connecticut’s youths. Eligible costs incurred beginning in summer 2024 through summer 2025 are reimbursable under the grant program.

The funding will support mental health services for students during the summer by partnering with Connecticut local and regional school districts, youth camp operators, and other summer programs through summer 2025. The grant is an extension of the Summer Mental Health Grant Program issued in 2023 for three years, which provided $4.5 million to 48 school districts and summer camp programs.