With Aid Money, US Schools Place Attention on Mental Health

Schools in the United States are using a large increase in federal money to help students' mental health needs.

School systems, or districts, are given plenty of freedom on how to spend the federal money. But mental health problems among students had become clear. Districts have observed a rise in behavioral issues, signs of stress and absenteeism as students returned to classrooms this fall. For many, it was their first time back in a full classroom since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Kansas City, Kansas, educators are opening an after-school mental health center. The center is filled with counselors¹ and social workers. Schools in Chicago, Illinois, have "care teams" with the mission of helping³ struggling students.

For some school districts, the money has aided long-standing work to help students deal with trauma⁴ -- difficult experiences that have led to emotional problems. Other school systems have created new efforts to treat students. Overall, the money puts public schools at the center of efforts to improve students' general well-being⁵.

When the government sent aid to schools after the 2008 economic recession, "this conversation wasn't happening," said Amanda Fitzgerald. She is with the American School Counselor² Association. Now, Fitzgerald said, the discussion across the country is very centered on student well-being.

Last month, three major children's health groups said the situation of children's mental health should be considered a national emergency. The U.S. Education Department has pointed⁶ to the aid money as a chance to rethink how schools provide mental health support. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said mental health needs to be at the center of recovery from the pandemic.

The pandemic aid to schools totals $190 billion. That is more than four times the amount the Education Department normally spends on kindergarten through 12th grade schools each year. Money for mental health services has gone toward worker training, mental health examinations and classroom lessons that include social and emotional learning.

Many districts have been working to hire more mental health experts. The National Association of School Psychologists questioned its members this fall. It found that more than half of districts were planning to add social workers, psychologists or counselors.

With $9.5 million of federal aid funding and outside grant money, Paterson schools in New Jersey⁷ added five behavioral experts. The district also hired two substance abuse experts and workers able to identify students going through crises.

Paterson is one of the poorest parts of New Jersey. Many of the 25,000 students there faced hunger even before the pandemic and struggled after family members lost jobs, said Superintendent⁸ Eileen Shafer.

"We wanted to make sure before we try to teach anything new, that we're able to deal with where our children are right now based on what they've been through," she said.

In Ellicottville, New York, school psychologist Joe Prior is seeing more anxiety among students. He said the district wants to use the aid to hire a counselor to connect students with psychological help.

Chicago, the nation's third-largest school district, created a "healing plan" for students, using $24 million of its $2.6 billion in federal aid.

In Detroit, the district is spending $34 million on mental health programs. The school system is using the money to screen students, expand help from outside mental health providers, and offer extra support to parents.

On a recent Wednesday, that meant an hourlong meditation⁹ session for parents at a local coffee shop. One parent worried her own stress was affecting her son's ability to learn.

"As a community we have all been through something," said Sharlonda Buckman, an assistant superintendent who took part in the session. "Part of the recovery has to be some intentional¹⁰ work in spaces like this, so we can be there for our kids."

Words in This Story

absent — adj. not present at a usual or expected place

counselor — n. a person who provides advice as a job

conversation — n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people :the act of talking in an informal way

kindergarten — n. a school or class for very young children

hire — v. to give work or a job to (someone) in exchange for wages or a salary

psychologist — n. a scientist who specializes in the study and treatment of the mind and behavior

anxiety — n. fear or nervousness about what might happen

meditation— n. the act or process of spending time in quiet thought

intentional — adj. done in a way that is planned or intended

kid — n. a young person

1 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

2 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

5 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

8 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

9 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

10 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。