The five-year, $5 million grant is awarded to support the development of mental health services and behavioral health education

For the second time in a decade, Battle Ground Public Schools is the recipient of a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Called Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education, or Project AWARE, the five-year, $5 million grant is awarded to support the development of mental health services and behavioral health education. Just 21 organizations across the nation were selected this year. Battle Ground Public Schools is the only Washington state school district selected to receive the latest round of funding.

Every Battle Ground school will benefit from the grant, which will be used to increase access to mental health services; provide staff, student, and community training on identifying and responding to mental health issues; expand access to curriculum; and help staff meet students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs.

As Battle Ground engages in further planning, it will develop an advisory board of both school professionals and community partners, as well as partner with other grant recipients on initiatives.

The district previously received a $5 million AWARE grant in 2014. That round of funding supported behavioral education, drug and alcohol prevention and intervention and mental health services that continue to be implemented. Sustained progress made through the initial grant was one of the reasons that Battle Ground was selected again this year. 

“These grant funds help to further improve our efforts at supporting the mental health and behavioral needs of our students,” said Director of Instructional Interventions Tamra Scheetz. “I am proud of our district for being selected for this grant for a second time.”

Information provided by Battle Ground Public Schools.