Jennifer Theriault is raring for the college 12 months to start. Working as an early childhood social employee in Groton, she focuses on the psychological well being wants of the district’s youngest learners.

“Getting to them early while they are in that young age where they can have so much progress is ideal,” Theriault stated. “Rather than focusing on mental health efforts later on in their lifespan.”

Theriault works with greater than 200 preschool and kindergarten college students in Groton. Her place is comparatively new and was created after the district seen an elevated want for psychological well being assist in that age group through the pandemic.

“Because they don’t have the base of skills that older students already worked on before the pandemic shut everything down. They are starting from scratch,” Theriault stated.

Superintendent Susan Austin stated that their information made it clear that they wanted to focus extra on preschool, pre-Okay and kindergarten college students.

“Teachers were really concerned about our littles,” Austin stated. “When they finally got to school, you could really see a difference – that they needed more support and families needed more support.”

The district created Theriault’s place, however the cash that originally funded it ran out this summer time.

The college district was simply awarded a Connecticut School Mental Health Specialists Grant that can enable Theriault to proceed in her position for the subsequent three years.

The state awarded $15 million in funding for 72 college districts throughout Connecticut. The grant is designed to assist districts rent and retain psychological well being specialists.

“This funding will enable schools to hire dedicated school mental health professionals, ensuring students have the vital support they need. With this investment we are building a safer, nurturing environment where students can excel academically, socially, emotionally and physically,” Charlene Russell-Tucker, the state’s schooling commissioner, wrote in a press launch.

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) stated that the brand new grant program prioritizes college students’ well-being as a foundational aspect to scholar success.

“We want to meet the needs of the students. The goal is to provide resources to districts so they can onboard clinicians,” John Frassinelli, with the CSDE, instructed NBC Connecticut.

The grant program was aggressive, with greater than 100 districts that utilized. It is being funded with federal {dollars} from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Frassinelli stated as a part of the applying course of, districts needed to consider their information and decide the place their biggest wants have been.

Groton acquired $232,200 in grant funding for college years 2024, 2025 and 2026. It will straight fund Theriault’s place because the district’s early childhood social employee.

“We’ve learned that without the focus on mental health we are not going to accomplish anything else,” Theriault stated.

Austin stated that the early childhood social employee place has made an enormous distinction.

“The impact has been profound,” Austin stated.

The district is addressing psychological well being in different methods as effectively. Each college constructing has a social employee and faculty psychologist. They have additionally employed extra Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) tutors, amongst different initiatives.

The grant-funded early childhood social employee place is one piece to the puzzle.

“But it is an important piece because it sets the foundation for student’s learning,” stated Denise Doolittle, who oversees scholar assist companies for the district. “It is an investment in our youngest children.”