YAKIMA, Wash. – Two Educational Service District 105 (ESD 105) and Heritage University programs dedicated to developing school-based mental health professionals have had their funding cut by the U.S. Department of Education.
The Department announced its discontinuation of funding for the Yakima Valley Grow Your Own Consortium and Masters in Mental Health Counseling on April 29.
According to a joint statement, the grants went towards improving the shortage of school-based mental health professionals in South Central Washington, allowing for candidates from underserved communities to become school social workers and behavioral health providers.
This year, 17 students are expected to graduate with a Master of Social Work and 18 are completing their first year of the Master in Mental Health Counseling program.
“The loss of these grants will have lasting, negative impacts on our schools and communities,” said Executive Director of Student Support at ESD 105 Emily Nelson. “We already face significant delays and barriers in youth access to behavioral health services, and these grants were designed to address those challenges by bringing more qualified professionals into schools and communities.”
Heritage and ESD 105 are both working to support currently enrolled students and appealing the Department’s decision in an attempt to reinstate funding.
