As of December 30, 2024, the state of North Carolina had allocated $5 million in mental health funding for school districts and charter schools impacted by Hurricane Helene, yet only a small portion of these funds had been accessed. According to a draft report presented to the N.C. General Assembly, just $18,969 had been drawn down, with only Madison County Schools and Yancey County Schools having utilized any of the appropriated funds.
The funding, authorized by the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024, is designated to support mental health services for students, staff, and families affected by the hurricane. The goal is to assist in the recovery process, address trauma care, and help reintegrate students back into academic life. The report shows that 26 charter schools and 30 school districts are eligible to benefit from the funding, but the uptake has been limited.
The allocated funds may be used for various purposes, including:
- Contracting with community partners to provide mental health services.
- Hiring school health personnel or licensed mental health professionals.
- Providing services for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, or counseling of mental health and substance use disorders.
The funds are intended to be flexible, allowing districts to tailor their mental health support services to the specific needs of their communities, including individual, family, or group counseling settings.
Each eligible district or charter school receives an initial allocation of $30,000, with additional funds based on the average daily membership (ADM) of students. The funding is accessible through the Program Report Code (PRC) 230 and is available until June 30, 2030.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has outlined the details of this funding and its usage in a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document. Despite the significant availability of funds, the low uptake as of the report date suggests that further outreach and support may be needed to ensure these resources reach all eligible districts and schools. The final report on the usage of the funds is due on March 15, 2025.
