Federal grants helping to train, keep mental health counselors in Vermont

It’s been a tough few years, with staffing still not where it needs to be in Vermont schools. But it’s not just teachers, mental health counselors and psychologists play an important role and are needed as well. Federal grant money is now helping to fill the gaps.

According to the newsletter 802Ed, there were around 200 open positions in the last six months. Now, some jobs have been filled, leaving about 140 open positions. An effort to attract, and retain staff is underway across the state, including at Vermont State University, which has had programs for mental health counseling for years. It just received a federal grant that aims to educate and keep school counselors in Vermont.

Vermont State University recently received a nearly $850,000 federal grant that provides tuition for students and salaries for their internships under the agreement they work here in Vermont. It’s helping to make the university’s psychology and school counseling master’s programs more accessible.