Durbin, Duckworth Announce $13.5 Million In Federal Funding To Support Illinois Students

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $13.5 Million In Federal Funding To Support Illinois Students

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $13,467,325 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education for mental health and literacy support for students in Illinois.

"There is a growing mental health and literacy crisis amongst today's youth that must be addressed," said Durbin. "Today's announced federal funding for programs that build the pipeline of mental health professionals, connect professionals to students, and support literacy research will help Illinois face these concerns head-on. It also demonstrates the importance of the Department of Education as the Trump Administration continues its attempts to dismantle the agency. Senator Duckworth and I will always work to ensure our students have access to resources that help put them on a path toward success."

"Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, which is why I'm proud to see this investment support critical mental health programs that help students across Illinois thrive," said Senator Duckworth. "While this funding will reach our state this time around, it's cruel that Donald Trump's cuts to federal services have jeopardized programs that prepare the next generation-hurting the very middle-class families he swore to protect, all while enriching his billionaire buddies. That's why I will continue doing everything I can at the federal level, alongside Senator Durbin, to safeguard these investments and ensure every student across our state has the chance to succeed, both inside and outside the classroom."

The Department of Education's School-Based Mental Health Grant Program and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program provide competitive grants to State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and consortia of LEAs to train and increase the number of credentialed mental health services providers providing school-based mental health services to students. The Education Innovation and Research grant provides funding to create, develop, implement, replicate, or scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based, and field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students.

The Department of Education funding recipients include:

• Cahlhoun, Greene, Jersey, and Macoupin Counties: Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Program ($1,246,643)
• Illinois State Board of Education: School-Based Mental Health Grant Program ($1,743,772) and Mental Health Service Professionals Development Program ($476,910)
• The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois: Education Innovation and Research ($10,000,000)

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