Welcome New NWESD Employees Grant to Expand School-Based Mental Health

from March-April Board to Board 2023

board to board

The Northwest Educational Service District 189 (NWESD) was awarded a $11.4 million federal Department of Education (DOE) grant to expand school-based mental health services.

The NWESD is proud to announce that it has been selected as the recipient of substantial federal funding that will enable the NWESD to recruit, place, support, and retain 20 credentialed school-based mental health professionals (SBMHP+) with the requisite training and clinical supervision necessary to provide clinical behavioral health supports to K-12 students.

The DOE grant totaled $11,412,471 to provide essential mental health support to students in the region. These funds support 75% of the total project cost, with the remaining 25% ($2,853,118) non-Federal funds leveraged through local, county, and state partnerships. The total project will result in a $14,265,589 investment over the next five years.

Districts interested in having a SBMHP+ will have the opportunity to submit a Partnership Request Form. Partnership requires a commitment to integrate services and cost-sharing. We anticipate services will begin in the Spring of 2023.

The NWESD will begin the process of recruiting mental health professionals who are interested in providing school-based services that offer unique opportunities to collaborate with educators to improve academic and socialemotional outcomes for students. Interested applicants can to find more information on the NWESD website (www.nwesd.org/jobs ).

Charels Crabtree, District 1

Bellingham*, Burlington-Edison, Meridian Jack Thompson, District 2

Anacortes, Blaine, Ferndale, Lopez, Oak Harbor, Orcas, San Juan Island, Shaw

Mark Venn, District 3

Bellingham*, Conway, La Conner, Lynden, Mt. Baker, Mt. Vernon, Nooksack, Sedro-Woolley

Oscar Escalante, District 4

Coupeville, Everett*, Lakewood, Mukilteo*, South Whidbey, Stanwood

Alan Erickson, District 5 Everett*, Marysville

Educational Service Districts have served Washington State for over fifty years, providing vital services and functioning as advocates for local districts. Northwest Educational Service District 189 (NWESD) serves Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island, and San Juan counties.

NWESD’s more than fifty programs are organized into seven departments to serve you: Administration, Early Learning, Fiscal Services, Prevention Center, Special Programs and Services, Teaching and Learning, NWRDC, and Technology Services. Please visit us on our website at nwesd.org for more information on each of these departments.