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US sues NY state officials over immigration enforcement; NM's national monuments face new development threats from Trump; NC community colleges get 'boost' to bring more students to high-demand jobs; Trump's resignation plan for federal workers can move forward; Advocates push for program to decrease wildlife collisions in VA.

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Deregulation raises environmental and public health concerns, national monuments face potential risks, political neutrality in education sparks protests, and Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation fuels controversy.

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Rural America struggles with opioids and homelessness in unexpected ways, Colorado's Lariat Ditch could help spur local recreation, and book deliveries revive rural communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

NJ spending on student mental health is up, challenges remain

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025   

While New Jersey has made gains in K-through-12 mental health support, advocates said the state needs to do more.

In recent years New Jersey has passed legislation and seen a mix of state and federal grants awarded to help expand access to school based mental health services. In December, Montclair State University was awarded a federal grant to recruit and train school psychologists. Last fall, Rutgers University announced a similar grant aimed at increasing the number of highly trained school counselors.

Angela Kimball, chief advocacy officer for the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable, said for many people accessing mental health services can seem intimidating.

"When we offer mental health services in schools, it serves to actually normalize the idea of getting support for your mental health," Kimball explained. "That really reduces stigma, and it reduces other barriers to people getting the kind of support they need to thrive. "

The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250 counselors per student. New Jersey has improved its ratio from 2019 when it was near 350 counselors per student. In 2024, the number was just under 300 to one.

The state is currently in the second year of the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services network, which offers support to all students in the state through 15 regional hubs. The hubs are staffed by prevention specialists and licensed clinicians, and can deliver services in schools, other community settings and virtually.

The hubs offer three tiers of services ranging from workshops in tier one, to prevention services in tier two for groups of at-risk students and individualized intervention services in tier three. The program was intended to replace existing school-based services in place since the 1980s at 90 schools throughout the state. The school-based programs were preserved after some pushback and Kimball noted research points to benefits for keeping services in schools.

"Research is showing that youth who get school-based services are six times more likely to complete a full course of treatment than with community-based treatment," Kimball reported.

Last year, the New Jersey Department of Education found 13% of 12-17-year-olds in the state reported at least one major depressive episode in the past year, with 8% reporting a severe episode.

Disclosure: Inseparable contributes to our fund for reporting on Criminal Justice, Health Issues, Mental Health, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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