The University of Mississippi (UM) has received a $2.6 million grant to expand two key initiatives aimed at enhancing mental health support and preschool education across the state. The funding, provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, will be distributed over three years and will support the Clinic for Outreach and Personal Enrichment (COPE) and the Growing Healthy Minds, Bodies, and Communities (GHMBC) initiative.
The COPE program, which received $1.5 million, and the GHMBC program, awarded $1.1 million, are both housed within UM’s School of Education. These programs aim to provide free online counseling services for youth and an evidence-based preschool curriculum, respectively.
Todd Klunk, program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, “We believe every child should thrive. We support programs like GHMBC and COPE, which help children develop holistically and provide accessible mental health services, thereby strengthening communities in Mississippi.”
The GHMBC program, which began in 2019, focuses on providing preschool teachers and families with resources and training to support young children’s overall well-being. The curriculum integrates activities such as gardening, yoga, nutrition, physical activity, and emotional management, supplementing state educational requirements.
Alicia Stapp, co-founder of GHMBC and associate professor at Ole Miss, noted that the grant would make the program more accessible. “We’re working on curriculum manuals and exploring ways to distribute our learning resources in a cost-effective, scalable manner,” she explained. The program has already been adopted by 22 schools, and this new funding will help expand its reach to schools on the waitlist starting this fall.
Additionally, GHMBC plans to develop an online training model for preschool educators and provide mentorship support, with the goal of making the program available to early childhood educators nationwide. Kenya Wolff, co-founder and director of the Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning, highlighted the positive outcomes of the program, noting that students are showing improved impulse control and a greater willingness to try new foods. Parents also report that their children are more open to interacting with peers from different backgrounds and practicing mindfulness.
On the mental health front, COPE plans to use its funding to expand its telehealth counseling services, addressing gaps in available support for students from preschool to high school. Established in 2015, COPE has been offering free or income-based mental health services for children, adults, and Ole Miss students. During the 2023-24 academic year, the clinic provided more than $492,000 worth of services statewide.
Richard Balkin, professor and chair of the Department of Leadership and Counselor Education, explained that COPE’s telehealth expansion aims to overcome barriers to in-person counseling, such as location, transportation, disabilities, and insurance issues. “We’re reaching underserved areas, particularly in northern Mississippi,” he said.
The clinic also trains master’s and doctoral students from the university’s counselor education program, providing them with practical experience while helping meet the mental health needs of the community. With the new grant, COPE will cover certification costs for online counseling interns, further extending its reach.
As the demand for mental health services continues to grow, Amanda Winburn, professor of counselor education at UM, stressed the importance of supporting the mental well-being of children. “When children are struggling emotionally or worried about their home life, they can’t focus on schoolwork,” she said. “Addressing these concerns is essential for their academic success.”
The grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will allow both programs to continue making a meaningful impact on Mississippi’s youth, providing essential services that promote both mental health and holistic education.
