Larson, DeLauro Announce $587,633 for Mental Health Service Professionals at University of Connecticut

East Hartford, CT - Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) announced a $587,633 grant for the University of Connecticut to support innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health services providers and expand the number of mental health service professionals available to address the dire need in our schools. The funding comes from the Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Program.

"With 1 in 6 youth in the United States experiencing mental illness each year, it has never been more important to grow our mental health workforce and prioritize the well-being of our children and adolescents in Connecticut and across the nation," said Rep. Larson. "Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Rosa DeLauro on the Appropriations Committee, we have worked to increase federal funding for training and workforce development in the health care field. This new grant will support programs at UConn to train mental health care providers and ensure our schools have the personnel and resources needed to support students of all ages."

"Mental health is critical for the well-being of students," said Rep. DeLauro. "To tackle the mental health crisis we face, we need a strong and capable workforce of mental health professionals ready to provide comprehensive care and support in our schools and communities. With this funding, UCONN can continue to develop a strong pipeline of mental health professionals who can ensure our students have access to the mental health services they need. I proudly fought for a $74 million increase for awards in two critical programs, the School-Based Mental Health Services Grants and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grants, which are critical to addressing the youth mental health crisis in our communities. I will always work to make sure our youth have the resources they need to thrive."

The Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Program aims to build a robust workforce of school-based mental health service providers. This funding will enable the University to recruit and train mental health professionals, expanding access to the essential mental health services students need.