KEARNEY, Neb. — Staff at Kearney Public Schools will be getting extra mental health training thanks to a federal grant.

The district announced Friday that it won a $434,484 Mental Health Awareness Training Grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services Center for Mental Health Services. The grant program aims to train school personnel to recognize the signs of mental disorders, particularly serious mental illnesses or serious emotional disturbances in students. 

“Training those staff members who work with our students on a day-to-day basis to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health issues is critical,” KPS Superintendent Jason Mundorf said. “Early help and prevention can help our students stay mentally strong and be better learners.”

The grant will allow teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries and bus drivers be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Prevention and Interventions. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches staff how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18. The Mental Health Training will focus on the following:

  • Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in this age group, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
  • Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
  • How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.
  • How to connect the youth with help.
  • Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care and the impact of social media and bullying.

The grant will also help educate people about community resources for those with mental disorders. The project allows KPS to partner with Buffalo County Community Partners in conducting a social media campaign about mental health awareness targeting youth.

“As the mental health needs of our students become more and more complex, it is exciting to have this great opportunity to train our staff in the skills necessary to identify and support those critical needs,” said Jesse Florang, Grant Coordinator and KHS MTSS Coordinator.

The grant will be distributed in four years:  $120,951 in year one, $90,791 in year two, $120,951 in year three, and $90,791 in year four.