Contributed by
Auburn City Schools

On Wednesday, the Alabama State Department of Education hosted a press conference to announce that 102 school systems were recently awarded grants to hire mental health service coordinators to support and expand the coordination of services in Alabama school systems. Auburn City Schools’ Mental Health Service Coordinator, Joy Stanley, represented ACS alongside State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey at this event (third from the left).

The Alabama Legislature appropriated $4.5 million to support and expand mental health services throughout Alabama school systems by establishing the Mental Health Service Coordinator position at local education agencies. School-Based Mental Health Supports, funded by the Alabama Legislature, ensure students in Alabama public schools have access to high-quality mental health prevention, early intervention and treatment services.

The Mental Health Service Coordinators will develop, sustain, facilitate and map resources to implement a multi-tiered system of support for students for early identification of academic and behavior barriers and interventions to support a student’s needs.