Durbin Meets With CEO Of Chicago Public Schools To Discuss Expanding Trauma-Informed Care For Students
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Pedro Martinez, CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS), to discuss helping our students thrive and succeed, including by addressing trauma and providing supportive school-based services through the Chicago HEAL Initiative. Durbin and Martinez also spoke about the implementation of grants, created through theBipartisan Safer Communities Act, that allocate $3 million to CPS for the hiring of school-based mental health professionals. CPS was awarded an additional $3.6 million through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Project AWARE program to expand trauma-informed mental health services for students in crisis.
Durbin and Martinez also discussed CPS’ work to support students currently and during the COVID-19 pandemic, including using federal funds to hire additional school-based mental health professionals and academic interventionists. CPS witnessed its highest graduation rates last year, and academic progress, especially among its youngest students, has grown.
“This generation of children – who are dealing with the scourge of gun violence and lived through a global pandemic – have been through so much. It is a top priority of mine that kids have access to mental health services and trauma-informed care to address the heavy emotional weight they carry,” said Durbin. “In my meeting with CPS CEO Pedro Martinez today, I received an update on how Chicago HEAL grants and federal funding is being allocated in schools to better support students.”
A photo of the meeting is available here.
Launched in 2018 by Senator Durbin and 10 of the largest hospitals serving Chicago, the HEAL Initiative is a collaboration to address the root causes of gun violence through economic, health, and community projects in 18 of Chicago’s neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence, poverty, and inequality.
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