School Psychology Secures $1.1M Grant to Address Mental Health Workforce Shortages in Oregon Schools
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Elena Diamond and Jennifer Twyford, Associate Professors in the School Psychology program, a $1.1M, 5-year grant to develop a new program at the Graduate School of Education & Counseling titled, Project AMPLIFY (Advancing Multilingual Practices and Learning with Inclusion for Youth). Project AMPLIFY will expand multilingual and culturally responsible mental health services in Oregon high-need school districts.
The United States is facing a growing mental health crisis. National studies report that 1 in 6 youth between the ages of 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year, and half of all lifetime mental illness is presented by age 14. In the last decade, there has been a 40% increase in mental, emotional, developmental, and behavioral disorders, and suicidal behaviors in high school students. School psychologists are on the frontlines of this mental health crisis and are often the only access young people have to mental health care. However, there is an ongoing shortage of school psychologists nationwide and in the State of Oregon. In addition, there is an even greater shortage of school psychologists who are multilingual and represent the racial and ethnic diversity in our schools.
Project AMPLIFY seeks to address this shortage through recruitment and retention of underrepresented candidates, who will receive high-quality, evidence-based training in identity inclusive multilingual and culturally responsible practices. Project AMPLIFY will address school psychology workforce shortages in Oregon by adding 28 specialized school psychologists in six high-needs districts: Reynolds School District, Woodburn School District, Parkrose School District, Gresham-Barlow School District, Southern Oregon Education Service District, and Douglas Education Service District. The program will provide a cumulative additional 91,000 hours of school-based mental health services under GSEC student fieldwork and service obligation hours to those districts. A total of $630,000 in scholarships will be awarded to School Psychology students as part of this program. One hundred percent of the project will be funded by the grant.
The US Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Grant Program received a dramatic increase in funding as part of the FY 2022 Appropriations Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, citing a growing need for mental health care for young people. The MHSP Grant Program estimated awarding $19M as part of the 2024 grant cycle and projected 15-25 awards across the country.
