UCO Receives $4.98 Million Grant from U.S. Department of Education to Address Student Mental Health Needs at Moore Public Schools
Oct. 28, 2024
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Donna Nigh Department of Advanced Professional and Special Services, housed in the College of Education and Professional Studies, has received a $4.98 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will address the mental health needs of students while offering educators at Moore Public Schools opportunities to advance their professional qualifications. UCO is the only university in Oklahoma to receive funding for school-based, mental health services.
The grant will support the Growing Responsive Intervention Teams (GRIT) project, an innovative, five-year initiative. Project GRIT’s goal is to grow the number of mental health professionals within Moore Public Schools by retaining educators who will complete school counseling and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure programs. These educators will remain within their current district roles during the project and transition into key mental health positions as they complete their training.
“As Oklahoma’s third largest and only public metropolitan university, the University of Central Oklahoma is uniquely prepared to help teachers grow in their profession and, by extension, help Oklahoma’s next generation thrive as they learn skills needed to be successful citizens,” said UCO President Todd G. Lamb.
“UCO was founded 134 years ago as the state’s teachers’ college, and since then, we have been unmatched in our capacity to develop and prepare educators to meet Oklahoma’s critical workforce needs. We appreciate the U.S. Department of Education’s recognition and support of our faculty and the GRIT program.”
The project, led by Cheryl McGee, Ed.D., assistant professor in the UCO Donna Nigh Department of Advanced Professional and Special Services, is in partnership with Moore Public Schools.
“As a passionate advocate for both mental health and education, I believe that supporting the mental health needs of students is essential to their success inside and outside the classroom. Project GRIT presents an exciting opportunity to expand the number of qualified mental health professionals in schools while equipping educators with the knowledge and skills to create healthier, more responsive learning environments,” McGee said.
“Through advanced training in mental health and trauma-responsive practices, we can build cohesive teams that truly understand and address the comprehensive needs of every student.”
Project GRIT aims to build capacity within the Moore Public Schools district by developing graduate-level cohorts for educators, providing district and site teams coaching support aligned to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and providing educators and staff professional development on trauma-informed care. The partnership will serve Moore Public Schools' 25,000 students by increasing access to qualified mental health professionals.
For more information on UCO’s College of Education and Professional Services Donna Nigh Department of Advanced Professional and Special Services, visit www.uco.edu/ceps/academics/dnapss/.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma’s Donna Nigh Department of Advanced Professional and Special Services, housed in the College of Education and Professional Studies, has received a $4.98 million grant to address the mental health needs of students while offering educators at Moore Public Schools opportunities to advance their professional qualifications. UCO is the only university in Oklahoma to receive funding for school-based, mental health services.
Devan Wielgos