FRANKFORT, Ky. — Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman (D-KY) announced that Kentucky is one of six states participating in a year-long project to support student mental health.
The National Governors Association Best Practices Center for Children and Families team selected Kentucky to join Alabama, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Virginia in a policy academy dedicated to advancing youth mental health and well-being.
“We believe every child in Kentucky deserves to grow up happy and healthy,” said Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. “Like many states, Kentucky faces significant obstacles to student success due to a student mental health crisis. It is imperative that we address these issues head on.”
The academy joins the National Association of State Governors’ 2022-23 President’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth Mental Health. Coleman’s office said as young people face a mental health crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, elected officials need to ensure students have the resources they need.
Coleman’s office said states promote student mental health through a variety of approaches, and that Kentucky’s team is focused on expanding and improving school-based mental health services and supports.
“As a teacher, I have dedicated my career to serving my community from the classroom,” Coleman said. “In an education-first administration, Kentucky’s students and their well-being will always be our top priority. I thank the National Governors Association and the many funders of this project for their investment in Kentucky students.”
Coleman’s office said she has been working with students across Kentucky to address the student mental health crisis since 2021. They held 10 summits and heard from peers about resources they needed, then used the data they collected to submit policy recommendations to the Kentucky General Assembly that led to more than $40 million in federal funding being provided to Kentucky for school-based mental health services.
