Yankton partners win $1.14 million federal grant to build behavioral-health education pathway
Summary
District staff and health partners told the board Yankton—s R-CORP award from HRSA will fund a three-year, $1,140,000 program to create a behavioral-health education pathway with dual-credit classes, internships and local training to recruit students into mental-health careers.
District staff and community partners told the Yankton School Board they have been awarded a federal R-CORP grant to develop a behavioral-health education pathway linking middle/high schools, Mount Marty University and local health providers.
Mister Duroczyk (presentation lead) said the grant comes through the Health Resources and Services Administration under the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and that Avera led the application with partners including Mount Marty University and Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health. "We applied for this grant... we found out in mid-September that this was awarded to our group," the presenter said, announcing a $1,140,000 award over three years.
The project, described as "Yankton's best," aims to create foundational coursework, hands-on simulation experiences, dual/concurrent-credit opportunities with Mount Marty, internship placements and training for students and educators in mental-health first aid. Presenters said planned programming would start as early as middle school to build a pipeline into local behavioral-health careers.
Dr. Olsen outlined four grant goals: familiarize students with behavioral-health careers, strengthen partnerships with local providers, expand high-school coursework with potential college credit, and increase student engagement through internships and guided community exposure. She called the coordinator role a —un challenge—or someone with cross-cutting skills and said the team hopes to present a hire and a more detailed curriculum at the January board meeting.
Presenters said portions of the annual award (roughly $380,000 per year over three years) will support school-based programming and community services; they committed to returning with staffing proposals and course plans at the board's next meeting.
Board members thanked the presenters and encouraged continued collaboration; the district will receive further details and likely curriculum proposals in January.
