ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. -- The Onslow County School Board is looking to add $395,000 to its budget to help teachers and staff battle mental health issues in the classrooms.
- The school board is looking to hire four additional social workers, a psychologist as well as incorporating a suicide prevention program for the following school year.
- Officials say factors including hurricane recovery, poverty and adverse childhood experiences play into the need.
- Onslow County School Board is also asking for an additional $200,000 to hire seven additional school resource officers to go into elementary schools.
The school board presented the requested budget request Tuesday, and is looking to hire four additional social workers, a psychologist as well as incorporating a suicide prevention program for the following school year.
Dr. Brendan Gartner, the Executive Director of Student Services for the school district says several factors play into the need, including hurricane recovery, poverty and adverse childhood experiences, like homelessness.
“This year we have approximately 1,400 students that are classified as homeless, compared to last year we had 318. Majority of the 1,400 are related directly to Florence,” said Gartner.
Onslow County School Board is also asking for an additional $200,000 to hire seven additional school resource officers to go into elementary schools.
North Carolina Lawmakers and FEMA have recently added $12 million for the Hope 4 NC Crisis Counseling Program. The Hope 4 NC Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) is dedicated to assisting families and individuals recovering from the "challenging effects of natural and human-caused disasters through the provision of community-based outreach and psycho-educational services."
Please call 1-855-587-3463 if you need assistance.