Why is there a $5 million appropriation for mental health in Detroit schools?

By Dennis Archambault

Hopefully, people hearing a WDET report (https://wdet.org/posts/2019/11/07/88837-detroit-public-schools-get-5-million-for-mental-health-care-services/?fbclid=IwAR3VvuV7uSWx4RFE3c1GnXJJT8bN7p9hrxtPkjmDty7hZ8_-d-PaCiWY1uY), or reading about the $5 million appropriation for mental health services in Detroit public schools, will ask “why?” Not why should we provide psychosocial support for young people trying to learn. Why is that even needed?

Detroit Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti explains, “Our schools and their employees must overcome the daily socio-emotional challenges our children face every day. We cannot simply focus on teaching and learning.”

The barriers to learning in a largely traumatized culture are extensive. This affects not only the standard literacy rate, but also health literacy. The grant from the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network will support the development of an integrated system of support and care for students, providing real time screenings, intervention, and support on school campuses not only for students, but their families as well. In a sense, schools need to build a framework of resilience to ensure an environment in which students can learn.

Dennis Archambault is vice president of Public Affairs for Authority Health.