WH Ups Spending For COVID-stressed Kids' Mental Health

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local pupils overwhelmed with life, especially as they recovery from the pandemic, will have extra support from schools when they return for class this fall.

West Hartford school officials recently announced a redistribution of funding from the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to hire five more mental health counselors, as well as a district-wide mental health coordinator to help students with mental health needs.

Administrators went before the West Hartford Board of Education earlier this month to update school officials about how they're utilizing ESSER funds.

No vote was necessary on the decision to spend more on mental health issues for students, but the presentation is part of a regular update administrators give school board members on ESSER.

ESSER dollars were born out of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is designed to help municipalities with the financial burdens of the COVID pandemic.

While towns and cities receive CARES aid, school systems receive ESSER dollars to help them pay for pandemic and post-pandemic impacts.

In all, West Hartford schools were allocated $14.94 million in ESSER funds from 2022 to 2024.

Most of that allotment funds academic and other programs, with the district originally pegged to spend about $1.44 million toward student mental health needs.

But school administrators in recent months have determined more needs to be spent to help children, a byproduct of an influx, they said, of anxiety and stress for students, likely due to the pandemic.

During the June 7 report to the school board, administrators said they upped the allotment by $872,193 to $2.3 million for mental health.

That, they said, will allow for the hiring of the six new mental health professionals for the next two years.

"What we're looking to do is to make a significant investment over the next few years," West Hartford Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Development Paul Vicinus Jr. told school board members.

According to a report submitted to the school board from administrators, "one of the most profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the impact on student mental health."

As a result, they're reporting a high amount of student misbehavior, which is likely caused by increased depression and anxiety.

The hope is this initiative will increase not only the students' access to mental health care, but help families coping with a lot of these issues too.

"One of the things that we are working at is means to increase access for families and students to mental health supports," West Hartford Assistant Superintendent for Administration Andrew Morrow told board members June 7.

As an example, he pointed out the district plans to open up space at both Hall and Conard high schools for counselors or other mental health professionals to meet with students/families about any issues they may be having.

"I do think it's something that we're excited about," Morrow said.

To watch the full June 7 Board of Education meeting, click on this link.