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Rep. Jenifer Loon Applauds Mental Health Grants for Local Schools

Monday, October 22, 2018

Eden Prairie, MN—It was recently announced that the Department of Human Services is awarding $33 million in school-linked mental health grants over three years to fifty-seven mental health providers across the state. This funding will bring mental health services to more than half of Minnesota schools including schools in the Eden Prairie School District. The funding will help with assessment, treatment and care coordination, teacher consultation, and school-wide trainings.

“As Chair of the House Education Finance Committee, I have made it a top priority to fund student mental health initiatives, helping to more than double the funding for school-linked mental health grants since 2015 and working to address this escalating need,” said Rep. Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie. “Improving outcomes for our students and making sure we reach children in need is critical, and I will continue to support meaningful investments for our students and schools.”

Since 2015, under the leadership of Education Finance Chair Jenifer Loon, House Republicans have more than doubled the funding for school-linked mental health grants from $5 million to $11 million annually.  She also proposed an additional $5 million annually as part of a comprehensive school safety package. Because of her work on addressing student mental health, Rep. Loon was also recently recognized as Legislator of the Year by NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness).

You can see the full list of recipients for the school-linked mental health grants here.