Mental health figures into Pennsylvania’s education funding

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Amid a growing mental health crisis across the state, Pennsylvania lawmakers are prioritizing youth mental health services in this year’s budget by approving a first-time line item of $100 million for in-school support.

Every school district will receive $100,000 as a base grant and charter school entities will receive $70,000.

The state’s Safety and Security fund, which was established in 2018 after the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, will also receive $100 million and $42.6 million will be allocated for county mental health offices providing at-home and community based behavioral health services.