Senator delivered billions in mental and behavioral health funding in her Bipartisan Safer Communities law
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with principals from Arizona schools to discuss utilizing the nearly $15 billion in mental and behavioral health funding the Senator secured in her Bipartisan Safer Communities law.
“Arizona schools deserve resources to help students learn, grow, and succeed. We’re working to implement funding from our Bipartisan Safer Communities law to help children learn in healthy, supportive environments,” said Sinema, sponsor and lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Safer Communities law.
Sinema, an experienced school social worker who has taught at ASU’s School of Social Work for over 20 years, used her social work background when writing and negotiating the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities law. The Senator’s Bipartisan Safer Communities law includes funding for school-based mental health and supportive services, investments in children and family mental health services, support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, protections for victims of domestic violence, and more.
During the meeting with Arizona principals, Sinema highlighted the added $500 million investment through the School Based Mental Health Services Grant Program to increase the number of qualified mental health service providers that offer school-based mental health services to students in school districts with demonstrated need. These funds will support innovative partnerships between eligible schools and school districts to help accelerate training and placement of qualified mental health professionals.
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