
The two-year grant, totaling nearly $90,000, will enable the district to have eight staff members – four each year – become certified as Mental Health First Aid instructors. These instructors will then train DPS staff, first responders, community health agencies, parents and others to serve students in grades kindergarten through 12th.
The project will furnish staff with resources to help students and families address mental health issues without shame or embarrassment, thus encouraging healthy lifestyles.
Superintendent Harvielee Moore said they were thrilled to have secured funding to begin the program because they recognize a student’s mental health is just as important for learning and overall success as his or her physical health.
Teacher JoAnn Byrn has been selected as the project coordinator. Byrn, DPS Head Nurse Margie Taylor and DPS Social Workers Olivia Paez and Estela Rodriguez attended a weeklong training in November and a nearly three-day course in December to attain certification.
The four will begin training others later this month.