Brook Lane School-Based Mental Health gets gaming commission grant

The funds will be used to continue staffing therapists at Clear Spring and Hancock elementary schools.

Brook Lane Health Services has received a $35,000 grant from the Washington County Gaming Commission to continue funding licensed therapists at two elementary schools.

Therapists are available at Clear Spring and Hancock elementary schools one day a week, where students can get up to three free therapy sessions. They are connected with community providers when additional care is needed. Therapists also collaborate with and train school personnel to recognize mental health concerns and make appropriate referrals.

The funding is part of Brook Lane's School-Based Mental Health program, funded through a $403,335 state grant, which offers the same services in every Washington County public middle and high school.

"The importance of having clinicians immediately accessible was demonstrated during several recent traumatic events affecting the Clear Spring community, including student deaths, the loss of parents and other incidents involving violence and loss of life," said Carrie Adams, Pharm.D., Brook Lane interim CEO. "Brook Lane clinicians provided crisis intervention, grief counseling and ongoing support directly within the schools."

Therapy intervention at the elementary level helps prevent behavioral problems and can support a student's emotional well-being and academic performance.

"As the only local organization providing a full continuum of behavioral health services for children and adolescents, Brook Lane is uniquely positioned to provide both early intervention and continuity of care," said Allen Twigg, MBA, LCPC, Brook Lane chief operating officer. "Sustaining these services at Clear Spring and Hancock elementary schools ensures that children continue to receive timely mental health support when and where they need it most."

To learn more about the School-Based Mental Health program, please visit brooklane.org/sbmh.