August 5, 2010 – The St. Louis Public School District is the proud recipient of a $395,327 first year grant from the U.S Department of Education’s Elementary and Secondary Counseling Program to implement a comprehensive and cohesive model for addressing the mental health needs of district students known as the St. Louis Elementary Counseling Initiative.

The St. Louis Elementary Counseling Initiative was created in partnership with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the St. Louis City Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services, the University of Missouri- St. Louis, the International Institute, and the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund. It is the only Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program grant award funded in the State of Missouri. The district will have the opportunity to apply for an additional two years of grant funds.

Funding for the St. Louis Elementary Counseling Initiative will provide a strong continuum of evidenced-based behavior interventions to help the district better meet the needs of students beyond the classroom by reducing counselor to student ratios; addressing specialized needs such as cultural awareness and linguistic support for ESOL students; and providing interventions for addressing student discipline issues. 

For more information please contact the Office of Public Information (314) 345-2367.

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