SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — Alisal Unified School District is expanding its mental health services.
The district received $4.7 million in federal funding for the 2024-2025 school year. Congress approved the funding in 2022.
The $4.7 million grant will be used to expand a contract with Effective School Solutions, a private mental health service that provides therapeutic mental health services to students. The grant will also provide family therapy to all schools in the district and professional development services for staff and parents.
People who live in Salinas believe it’s important to have access to mental health services, especially in schools.
“I have a lot of students who are having problems, and unfortunately there aren’t many people who are willing to help me,” said Salinas resident Antonia Ayala. “With this support, things will get better because kids will get the help they need.”
The district announced it plans to add more therapists and social workers to its schools this fall.
“We went from six this year to 12 next year,” said Alisal Union Unified School District Superintendent Jim Koenig. “Right now we have three social workers on the district payroll, and next year we’re going to have four.”
And for people like Ayala, she said mental health services should be available in every school district in the United States.
“There’s been a lot of shootings and kids need help understanding that better,” Ayala said.
The district said it had offered the services before but not comprehensively in all schools, but the grant will allow it to do so. It also said the number of behavioral health therapists will increase by 45 percent.
