On April 15, 2021, Gov. Reynolds announced that she would distribute $8.67 million of Iowa's discretionary GEER II funds for competitive mental health grants to public PK-12 schools. The purpose of the grant is to assist districts with urgent, specific or significant needs in providing mental health supports to PK-12 students that have been created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Services include coordination and delivery of mental health services and wraparound support to students, Youth/Child Mental Health First Aid training (YMHFA/Child MHFA), and suicide prevention services and programming. Competitive applications should prioritize mental health services and supports that directly impact students and families. For more information about each of the qualifying areas of mental health services and grant application process, please see Competitive Grants for Mental Health Supports for PK-12 Schools.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a public education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling rather, participants learn to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis. Read more about YMHFA and options available to districts, including YMHFA in blended, virtual and in-person formats: YMHFA Training Options
**Child Mental Health First Aid also now available!
To help schools and libraries provide devices and connectivity to students, school staff and library patrons during the pandemic, Congress established the $7.171 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund as part of the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
On May 10, the Federal Communications Commission released a new report and order outlining the rules of the new Emergency Connectivity Fund.
The full report may be found at: FCC to Launch $7.17 Billion Connectivity Fund Program.
Additional resources to this one-year funding:
Emergency Connection Fund (ECF)
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB)
- The FCC announced that consumers can begin applying for and enrolling in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program on May 12, 2021. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress appropriated $3.2 billion to the FCC to help low-income households pay for broadband service and connected internet devices.
- Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
- EBB Providers
