Ohio Governor Mike DeWine highlighted investments Tuesday about his recently signed 2020-2021 state operating budget, which includes $675 million in funding focused on student wellness and success.
The initiative will provide schools with resources to address the social and emotional needs of students.
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The funding, which is allocated to schools based on poverty level, has 11 eligible categories including:
- Mental health services
- Services for homeless youth
- Services for youth involved in child welfare
- Community liaisons
- Physical health care services
- Mentoring programs
- Family engagement and support services
- City Connects programming
- Professional development regarding cultural competence
- Professional development regarding the provision of trauma informed care
- Before and after-school programming
“As I travel the state, I often hear from teachers about students who are struggling with poverty, parental addiction, or even the pressures of social media,” Governor DeWine said. “Kids of today are facing unprecedented challenges at home that come with them into the classroom. With this funding, students will receive the wraparound supports they need, so that teachers and administrators can put their focus into academics.”
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This investment was part of DeWine’s Children’s Initiative, which he developed to elevate the importance of children’s programming in Ohio and drive improvements within the many state programs that serve children.