MHS ACCESS: Accessing Mental Health Services
Project Leadership:
- Dr. Nancy P. Razo (PI), LSSP, professor of practice and school psychology program coordinator
- Dr. Noe Ramos, LSSP, assistant professor of Human Development & School Services
- Dr. Suzanne Maniss, professor in the Department of Counseling
- Nelda M. Rodriguez, LMSW, clinical professor, School of Social Work
- Dr. Javier Cavazos, LPC, professor, Department of Counseling
- Dr. Selma Yznaga, LPC, professor in the Department of Counseling
Funding Amount: $5.7 million
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education, Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program
Project Description: The goal is to provide critical mental health services to K-12 students in the Valley.
Dr. Nancy P. Razo is principal investigator on the grant. The project will partner with seven local education agencies Brownsville, Edcouch-Elsa, McAllen, PSJA and Sharyland ISDs, and the Harlingen and Mission CISDs to train 120 school psychology, counseling and social work graduate students in those districts to complete their training and be employed to provide mental health services in schools.
The research team behind the grant expects that by the end of the grant period, 90 (75%) of the total 120 School-Based Mental Health Service Professionals will be employed as school psychologists, counselors or social workers in one of the seven partnered school agencies within the local region.
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