RCS to add mental health resources

The Kennesaw State University program is funded by a federal grant.

The Rome Board of Education is expected to approve on Tuesday a grant-funded partnership that will bring more mental health resources into its schools.

Kennesaw State was awarded a $4.45 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education to set up the program in five Northwest Georgia counties.

It will bring Master of Social Work students and specially trained student teachers into public schools in Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Paulding and Polk counties. The 5-year program includes specialized intervention training to teachers and school-based police officers.

It’s headed by Monica Nandan, director of strategic partnerships and social impact in KSU’S Wellstar College of Health and Human Services. She’s been assembling and training a team of 50 MSW students and 80 student teachers since the grant was announced last June. The program is scheduled to launch in August.

The grant acknowledges an increase in student mental health issues due to high poverty rates and other stressors exacerbated by the covid pandemic, combined with limited numbers of school psychologists and counselors.

“School social workers are needed to do things that psychologists and counselors don’t do — help connect students and their families to community resources,” Nandan said in announcing the grant. “They handle referrals to community resources, addressing the needs of students’ families, who may have endured layoffs or other issues. Anything that affects a child’s life — that is affecting them academically — the social workers can help.”

The school board meets at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Rome City Schools College and Career Academy, 990 Veterans Memorial Highway. A premeeting caucus starts at 4 p.m. and both sessions are public.

Board members also have a whole slate of accomplished students to recognize. RCS students recently won awards at several technology competitions, including the Georgia State Tech Fair. They also earned honors at competitions sponsored by Skills USA; Future Business Leaders of America; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; and Young Georgia Authors.