GILLIBRAND, COLLEAGUES DEMAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following press release:

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined 12 of her Senate colleagues in urging the Department of Education to disburse the funds abruptly and unlawfully canceled for the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration (MHSP) grant programs and to halt its attempts to undermine the grant programs.

"Protecting our children's mental health should not be a partisan issue," said Senator Gillibrand. "The Trump administration's appalling efforts to terminate SBMH and MHSP grant funding are harming our students, particularly as the shortage of mental health professionals and school counselors persists nationwide....