U.S. Department of Education Releases New Resource to Enhance Student Wellbeing

On October 19, the U.S. Department of Education released a new resource to enhance the promotion of mental health and social and emotional well-being among children and students. “Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health” highlights seven challenges to providing school- or program-based mental health support across early childhood, K-12, and higher education settings and presents seven corresponding recommendations. This resource includes a number of real world examples of how the recommendations are being put into action by schools, communities, and states across the country.

State Education Agencies (SEAs) and local school districts may use American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding, as well as previous rounds of ESSER funds, to implement these recommendations and make sure students get the support they need.

“Our efforts as educators must go beyond literacy, math, history, science, and other core subjects to include helping students to build the social, emotional, and behavioral skills they will need to fully access and participate in learning and make the most of their potential and future opportunities,” said Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education. “Amid the pandemic, we know that our students have experienced so much. We can’t unlock students’ potential unless we also address the needs they bring with them to the classroom each day.” View Summary: https://www2.ed.gov/documents/students/summary-supporting-child-student-social-emotional-behavioral-mental-health.pdf View Fact Sheet: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/19/fact-sheet-improving-access-and-care-for-youth-mental-health-and-substance-use-conditions Download Resource Guide: https://www2.ed.gov/documents/students/supporting-child-student-social-emotional-behavioral-mental-health.pdf