[NEWARK, New Jersey, October 25, 2019] The Newark Board of Education (NBOE), the largest school district in New Jersey, was awarded $1.9M for Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant from the US Department of Education for the Supportive Schools Newark project.
Supportive Schools Newark is a partnership between the NBOE and Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metro Campus (FDU) to create a pipeline of school psychologists for high needs schools and increase capacity to effectively address the mental health needs of youth who have experienced trauma. Graduate students from the FDU Program will complete a practicum and internship requirements in one of six demonstration K-8 schools, impacting approximately 4,300 students. The goals of Supportive Schools Newark are:
- To significantly increase the number of school psychology graduate trainees who are well prepared to provide mental health services in high needs schools and pursue employment in such schools following graduation through high-quality practicum and internship training opportunities.
- To increase the capacity of the NBOE to effectively educate students who have been impacted by trauma and/or traumatic stress by establishing six demonstration schools. These schools will serve as models for the district in the implementation of trauma-informed care and tiered systems of mental health support.
“Winning this grant is incredibly important to the District and we are honored to have been chosen,” said Superintendent León. He continued, “This grant will enable the district to continue the process of creating trauma informed schools that are truly needed.”
Ultimately, Supportive Schools Newark will make a significant contribution to the community of Newark by creating a pipeline of school psychologists that will enhance mental health supports and increase sensitivity to trauma in schools.