By Shannon Lukens.
School districts in Routt County have been awarded $3.6 million dollars over three years to provide mental health services across Routt County schools.
- The Steamboat Springs School District will receive $648,061 a year. That’s the largest grant award of any rural school district in Colorado.
- The South Routt District is getting $273,405 a year for one school social worker and a school counselor.
- The Hayden School District is receiving $188,808 a year and adding one school social worker.
- Steamboat Montessori is receiving $96,891 a year for one school health professional.
The grants are from the Colorado Department of Education.
Here’s more from the Steamboat Springs School District; May 11, 2023.
Steamboat Springs School District Awarded $1.9M Over Three Years by Colorado Department of Education Grant to Expand Student Mental Health Services
SSSD Grant Award Largest of any Rural School District in the State
Steamboat Springs, Colo. – May 11, 2023 – The Steamboat Springs School District has been awarded $648,061, including a grant awarded to North Routt Community Charter School, a year for three years through the Colorado Department of Education School Health Professional Grant to expand mental health services across the district. The SSSD grant award is the largest of any rural school district in Colorado. Additionally, grant awards to area schools total $3.6M over three years to provide mental health services across Routt County schools.
“We have known anecdotally that mental health is an important component of a successful education,” said Shelby DeWolfe, SSSD’s Behavioral Health and Restorative Practices Coordinator. “Now, we have data from the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey and our district referral systems that validate the need for mental health services in our schools. This funding allows us to continue to provide best-practice services and serve the larger student population through our different tiers of support. We are excited to use the data we have to make informed decisions on the implementation and delivery of services to our students and families.”
For the past several years, SSSD was able to increase its mental health positions through grant funding. Currently, over half of SSSD’s school counseling and mental health positions are grant-funded, with most of these grants ending after this school year. The CDE School Health Professionals Grant award ensures these positions remain in our schools and expands upon available services. The grant awards provide a full-time school health professional at Soda Creek Elementary, Strawberry Park Elementary, Sleeping Giant School, North Routt Community Charter School, Steamboat Springs Middle School, and Steamboat Springs High School. All schools will receive contracted school-based therapy. The grant also includes funds for professional development, suicide prevention training, and implementation resources to help measure students’ social, emotional, and behavioral functioning.
“We heard consistently from parents, students, staff, and community members that mental health is a priority,” said Dr. Celine Wicks, Superintendent. “This funding allows us to continue to provide and expand services in the mental health realm. Thanks to strong local funding partnerships with the Craig-Sheckman Family Foundation, UCHealth, and the Steamboat Springs Education Fund Board, we can demonstrate local funding support and the district’s commitment toward sustainable mental health services. The local matching funds were required to receive the CDE grant award.”
Area schools and districts were also awarded CDE funding, helping to ensure mental health services are available for students across Routt County.
- South Routt School District: $273,405/per year for 1 School Social Worker and 1 School Counselor
- Hayden School District: $188,808/per year for 1 School Social Worker
- Steamboat Montessori: $96,891/per year for 1 School Health Professional
SSSD’s comprehensive mental health programs provide integrated resources for students, families, and staff to support the growth and well-being of all learners. Schools are well-positioned to prevent, identify, and support student mental health needs; students are twice as likely to seek mental health support when provided in a school setting. Schools see students daily and can identify and refer all K-12 students to consistent free mental health services.
“We had a vision for what SSSD’s mental health programs could look like,” said DeWolfe. “We have made big strides toward realizing that vision, and this new funding is a testament to our success. This is an exciting step in sustaining our vision and ensuring we are utilizing best practices to meet students’ needs.”
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