The Wellmark Foundation has announced a $5 million School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant to help rural Iowa school districts expand access to brain and behavioral health services for students. One of the partner organizations supporting this effort is Brain Health Now, which helps schools implement Brain Health Retreat Rooms. These rooms are dedicated spaces where students can pause, regulate, and reconnect during the school day. Through the grant, schools have the opportunity to apply for funding to establish a Brain Health Retreat Room and hire a licensed brain health professional to serve as the room’s liaison. Accroding to a news release from Brain Health Now, Iowa youth face significant brain, behavioral, and physical health challenges. In the past five years, approximately 20 percent of Iowa high school students reported seriously considering suicide, and around 40 percent reported experiencing persistent sadness. In 2023, suicide was the second leading cause of death among Iowa youth ages 10–24. The School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant application is now open to school districts. The application information, including eligibility criteria, is available at Wellmark.com/ImprovingHealth.
