A multi-million dollar grant will help address youth violence in Muskegon area schools through a grant focusing on mental health support.
The United States Department of Education has awarded 20 education systems with grant dollars aimed at preventing youth violence. The Muskegon Intermediate School District is one of them receiving $4.5 million dollars. It will use the money for strengthening its Project Safe: A MYalliance Collaborative focusing on positive behaviors improving social, emotional and behavioral skills.
The money will expand the programs reach county wide over the next five years. To make that a reality five behavior coaches will be hired.
MAISD Superintendent John Severson points out county agencies are working together supporting the mental health needs of students and families through Hackley Community Care and HealthWest. Over the last three years they’ve increased the number of in-school behavioral clinicians from three to 23.
Severson explains the federal dollars will expand the program further, “Project SAFE will take us to that next step by helping us build effective systems to support true collaboration of proactive and responsive mental health supports inside our local schools.”
Patrick Center, WGVU News.