FERGUS FALLS – Lakeland Mental Health Center in Fergus Falls is receiving a state grant of more than $1.5 million to help with services it provides to residents of Otter Tail County.
In all, the Minnesota Department of Human Services indicates it has awarded 57 mental health providers a total of $33 million – $11 million per year for three years – to bring mental health services to over half of Minnesota schools. Grantees offer mental health services in schools, including assessment, treatment and care coordination, teacher consultation and school-wide trainings.
“We in the House have worked hard to address mental-health issues in recent years and an important part of that equation is funding programs such as this to help provide help for younger people,” said Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls. “By reaching children early in life, we can give them a brighter future for outcomes in the classroom and general success in life. I am pleased to support these efforts and it is good to see Lakeland was successful in earning this grant funding to help in delivering services for local students.”
Since 2015, House Republicans have more than doubled the funding for school-linked mental health grants from $5 million to $11 million annually. An additional $5 million annually the House approved as part of a comprehensive schools safety package was vetoed by the governor earlier this year.
You can see the full list of recipients for the school-linked mental health grants at www.mn.gov/dhs/media/news.
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