Martin M. Looney

Senate President Pro Tempore

Martin M. Looney

An Advocate for Us

August 4, 2023

SENATOR ANWAR WELCOMES $450,546.30 IN LOCAL SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST SUPPORT IN DISTRICT IN NEXT THREE YEARS

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) welcomed the state’s announcement this week that $450,546.30 in state support will be released to schools in the 3rd Senate District to support the hiring and retention of school mental health specialists for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 school years. These grants were spurred by the passage of key legislation passed in 2022 by Senate Democrats, supporting youth mental health amid increasing reports of challenges students face today.

“One of the most pervasive challenges to public health today in Connecticut is youth mental health struggles,” said Sen. Anwar. “We need to do everything we can to support our young ones. I was proud to vote in support of this legislation in 2022 and I’m encouraged to see it bear fruit in our own communities today.”

“Every child deserves essential support for behavioral health services, and through the release of these grants we are able to assist more school districts in hiring mental health workers,” Governor Lamont said. “Making these resources available in schools is a way we can easily and directly connect children and teens with the support they require.”

The following school systems will receive mental health support funds for the 2024 through 2026 school years, with the values representing the total amounts provided in that time:

East Windsor Public Schools, $126,546.30; Ellington Public Schools, $324,000.