Waterford Today

Oakland County continues to invest tens of millions of dollars in resources for school mental health, learning delay, food and housing assistance, and wraparound services for students and their families in 2022. Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter and Board of Commissioners Chairman David T. Woodward, joined by educators, students, and community leaders, highlighted how American Rescue Plan funds are bolstering the start of the new school year during a news conference today at the Pontiac School District Administration Building.

"As our kids go back to school, I knew it was a priority to boost the funding that we're giving to districts to help with the mental health challenges students are facing, as well as provide resources to address learning delay issues brought on by remote learning," Coulter said. "With the COVID relief funding we got from the federal government in the last 2 years, we've been able to make critical and transformational investments."

The county is employing $5 million in ARP funds for learning delay grants to be administered by United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Applications should be available by the end of September.

"We share a passion with Executive Coulter, commissioners,  and the county to do everything possible to make sure families are more stable and that every child has opportunities to succeed in school and beyond," said Tonya Adair, chief people, equity, and engagement officer, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "These funds are so important to make sure students have support in and out of the classroom, to prepare them for life. We are glad to support this effort towards addressing learning loss for students impacted by the pandemic."

The county is also utilizing more than $10 million ARP dollars to provide mental health professionals in schools for the second year in a row.

"The students of today have faced challenges most of us have never experienced," Pontiac School District Superintendent Kelley Williams said. "Districts across our region have seen the toll these past few years have taken on our children, and the positive impact an investment in mental health resources has on their success. We are grateful to the county for their commitment to this initiative."

Finally, the county is investing more than $18 million in housing and food assistance for students and their families this year.

"Oakland County is proud to lead Michigan and lean in to make sure every student has the resources, support, and tools to succeed," said Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman David T. Woodward. "Every dollar we invest in our students is a smart investment to create unprecedented opportunity for all – now, and long into the future."

Below is a complete list of $47 million in investments Oakland County has made to aid students and their families with mental health resources, learning loss, and basic needs.

Investments

Mental Health

• $10 million in June 2021 for mental health professionals in schools.
• $10,150,000 in June 2022 for mental health professionals in schools.
• $500,000 for the Communities in Schools wrap-around program, student support coordinators. This was a Ballmer Foundation initiative. Ballmer $500,000, Oakland $500,000, school match $500,000. This is targeting Pontiac, Oak Park, Ferndale, and Madison School in Madison Heights.
• $1,001,615 in June 2021 to support the cost of mental health services with co-pays, deductibles for under insured and uninsured students.
• $448,385 in June 2021 for mental health navigators working with schools to increase services and support for students.

Learning Delay

• $5 million in the summer of 2022 for learning delay grants to be administered by United Way of Southeastern Michigan. Applications should be available by the end of September.

Basic Needs

• $50,000: June 2021, Youth Assistance for casework assistance.
• $450,000: June 2022, Oakland Family Services to help childcare workers get the training they need to get certified.
• $1.2 million in June 2021, for childcare scholarships of up to $1,200 each.
• $2 million: June 2022, Oakland County's continuum of Care, home repairs.
• $250,000: June 2022, Fair Food Network to expand double up food bucks
• $2 million: June 2022, Food landscape study.
• $1.7 million: June 2022, Lighthouse and Pontiac Community Foundation for grants for emergency food providers.
• $5 million: April 2022, Housing Trust Fund, increasing available affordable housing and rental units.
• $2 million: June 2021, Legal Aid to help fight foreclosure or eviction.
• $5 million: April 2022, Shelter Capacity Fund: to increase the number of available shelter beds, including more for families to provide privacy.
• $312,000: June 2022: to Water Resources Commissioner to increase enrollment in water assistance programs.

Total: $47,062,000

Original source can be found here.