In 2023, the Maine Department of Education received $9 million in funding through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to help schools enhance mental healthcare access for students. This funding aimed to address the growing mental health crisis among students, especially in rural areas, and has enabled schools across the state to hire much-needed mental health professionals. However, administrators remain concerned about how they will sustain these services once the funding runs out.
Challenges in Rural Areas
While the program has successfully placed mental health professionals in all nine selected districts, there are still significant challenges. Two years into the program, only two out of the nine districts have been able to hire a mental health professional in every school. The primary difficulty is recruiting providers, particularly in remote parts of the state, where mental health professionals are in short supply.
Karen Paquette, the assistant superintendent of Lewiston Public Schools, which received the largest share of funding, noted, “School counselors and general education social workers are definitely areas where we are lacking.” This shortage is particularly acute in rural districts such as those in western Maine, Aroostook County, and southern Somerset County.
Funding Distribution
The funding is divided into two main categories:
- $5 million to support the salaries of new and existing mental health staff.
- $4 million to support retention and recruitment of mental health providers.
Annual grants for the districts ranged from $63,208 to $248,644, depending on student population size. The districts selected for the program were identified as high-need because they had lower ratios of mental health providers to students compared to state and national averages.
Positive Impact So Far
Since the funding has been distributed, there have been notable improvements in mental health support. For example, in Lubec, RSU 85 used the funds to hire its first school counselor, and in Aroostook County, RSU 79 successfully hired clinicians in each of its six schools. Administrators in these districts reported that the new counselors have helped reduce waitlists for services and increase student access to mental health support.
Jennifer Bourassa, curriculum director for RSU 79, noted, “Since we are a rural community with an overburdened mental health care system, our schools are often the only place where students are receiving mental health support.” This highlights the critical role schools play in providing mental health care in underserved areas.
The Rising Demand for Mental Health Services
The need for mental health services in schools is increasing. According to the Maine Integrated Health Survey, nearly one in five high school students in Maine reported seriously considering suicide in 2023, a significant increase compared to one in six students before the pandemic. The strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with ongoing issues such as the mass shooting in Lewiston last fall, has further exacerbated the need for mental health support.
With the increasing demand for services, school administrators like Mark Hatch, assistant superintendent of RSU 54, which covers southern Somerset County, have found it difficult to meet the mental health needs of students. Hatch explained that families in his district often struggle to find counseling services, with many local practices at capacity and long waitlists for mental health support.
Sustainability Concerns After the Grant Period
Despite the success of the program so far, the biggest challenge moving forward is the sustainability of these services once the funding expires. Without continued support, many schools may be forced to rely on local budgets to cover the cost of mental health professionals. Paquette emphasized that sustaining these positions after the funding runs out will be a “constant battle,” and she believes that ongoing funding is critical to maintain the support for students.
“The loss of the grant will mean the financial responsibility for the new positions is placed on the local budget,” said Paquette. This could put immense pressure on local school districts, especially those in rural and economically strained areas.
Addressing Workforce Gaps
The shortage of mental health providers in Maine is a significant barrier to providing adequate services to students. Libby Wright, youth education director for the National Alliance for Mental Illness in Maine, explained the importance of consistent, in-school mental health services, stating, “If we’re telling them to reach out and ask for help when they need it and then they don’t have somebody available to have those conversations, that could actually cause more harm.”
The state has also implemented initiatives to create a more sustainable workforce. One such initiative is the EASE program (Expanding Access in School Environments), which focuses on recruitment and retention of mental health professionals. This includes providing scholarships and professional development opportunities for current providers, with a focus on rural areas.
In addition to this program, the University of Southern Maine has received a $1.6 million grant to support school psychologists in rural areas. This grant provides tuition reimbursement and stipends for graduate students and current educators who want to become school psychologists in Maine.
National Support for School-Based Mental Health
On the national level, Senator Angus King of Maine has co-sponsored the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, which aims to provide a five-year renewable grant program to support school-based providers nationwide. This act could offer a long-term solution to the funding challenges faced by schools in Maine and across the country.
Conclusion
While the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funding has made a significant impact in Maine by expanding mental health services in schools, the future of these services remains uncertain. The rural mental health crisis, combined with rising demand and a limited supply of qualified professionals, poses an ongoing challenge.
However, the efforts made by the state and local school districts, along with national initiatives aimed at improving school-based mental health services, could provide a more sustainable model for meeting students’ mental health needs. As administrators and lawmakers continue to work toward ensuring consistent funding and improving the mental health workforce, the hope is that Maine’s schools can continue to provide critical support for students well into the future.
Key Takeaways
$9 million in funding has helped Maine schools hire mental health counselors.
The program has made significant progress, especially in rural areas.
Sustainability beyond the funding period is a major concern for school administrators.
National initiatives like the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act may offer long-term solutions.
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