Mental Health Focus

The Barrow County School System has dedicated teams who collaboratively focus on mental health concerns among out students. Our School Social Workers, Counselors, and Project Aware Program Manager and Clinicians devote time to mental health-related awareness, prevention, intervention, and resilience activities to ensure students are connected to appropriate and effective behavioral health services.

Project Aware Mental Heath Grant

A new grant will help Barrow County School System (BCSS) expand support services concerning the mental health of our students.

Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) has named BCSS as one of three Georgia school districts to receive funding for Project AWARE. Aware stands for Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education. Federal funding originated as a national response to school violence and mental health of school aged youth.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded the Project AWARE Grant to Northeast Georgia RESA in the amount of $1,800,000 per year for the next five years (September 2023- September 2028).

The grant is designed to provide support to accomplish three things:

• Increase mental health awareness among school ages youth
• Help to prepare school personnel and other adults who interact with youth to respond to mental health issues
• Help students and families connect with needed services

Director of Student Services Dr. Christina Lowe says, "We hope to use grant resources to bolster the amazing mental health initiatives already occurring in our school district and to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to develop an effective, sustainable infrastructure for school-based mental health services and programs that benefit the whole BCSS community."

The Barrow County School System will receive $360,000 per year over a period of five years to equal $1,800,000. The funding will support three new staff positions for BCSS - a Project AWARE Program Manager and two Mental Health Clinicians.

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