Bank of America is providing a $1 million grant to Boston Children’s Hospital to improve access to behavioral health services for Boston Public School students.
The grant will support the Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnerships Program (BCHNP), a school-based behavioral health program committed to working with school communities most impacted by systemic inequities. BCHNP has partnered with the Boston Public Schools for nineteen years and has a team of 17 community and school-based clinicians. BCHNP is part of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Boston Children’s Hospital.
The funding, in part, will support school-based behavioral health programming in partnership with the Boston Public Schools, including providing a range of clinical supports for students and their families, technical assistance for providers and professional development for educators and school staff. BCHNP will work with the schools to develop the systems and procedures needed to effectively address the needs of students. Boston Public Schools is the largest district in the state with an incredibly diverse student body.
BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper said, "Meeting the mental health needs of our students is of the utmost importance. This is key for ensuring that students are successful both in and out of the classroom. For nearly two decades, the BCH Neighborhood Partnership Program has worked closely with the Boston Public Schools to provide services in a welcoming and inclusive school-based setting that eases the stigma that often prevents families from seeking help for their children. We greatly appreciate the overwhelming support we've received from the business and philanthropic communities, and I have no doubt that the generous grant from Bank of America will have a positive impact in helping more BPS students thrive and succeed academically and socially."
Statistics reveal the depth of the mental health crisis afflicting the well-being of students. Studies show that one in five young people are struggling with a behavioral concern; nearly three quarters of children who need care do not receive any services; and that schools are the most common mental health service setting, for both the general population and for youth with a clinical diagnosis.
“Students often come to school with complex mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety and trauma. Improving access to mental health services contributes to a more positive climate for learning, leads to better academic and behavioral outcomes, and creates healthier communities where young people can thrive and succeed,” said Miceal Chamberlain, President, Bank of America Massachusetts.
“The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly half of U.S. adolescents have at least one behavioral / mental / emotional disorder, and the impact among youth of color is even worse," says Boston Children's President and CEO, Kevin B. Churchwell, MD. "Untreated child and adolescent psychiatric disorders can persist over decades, becoming increasingly difficult to treat and resulting in progressively greater family, social, educational and economic consequences. Thanks to Bank of America’s generosity, Boston Children’s Neighborhood Partnerships Program will be able to provide even more of the preventative support and care that can make a tremendous difference in helping ensure young people don’t need to spend time in the hospital.”