Birmingham City Schools Receive $3.1 Million to Expand Mental Health Services

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times Saterah Bigham, a psychologist with Birmingham City Schools (BCS), has seen an increase in mental health needs for students. Since the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 “community violence and adverse childhood experiences have profoundly impacted students emotional, psychological, and social well-being,” she said on Monday as BCS accepted a $3.1 million grant to expand mental health services. Bigham, who helped write the grant, said, “in writing this proposal, it was truly difficult to capture the magnitude of trauma that students face. In recognizing this urgent need, the school-based mental health grant aims to increase the number of mental health credentialed individuals working in the district and to also increase the number of students receiving critical mental health services.” Bigham, U.S. Rep Terri Sewell, and BCS Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan were all at A.H. Parker High School to announce the funding. “I believe it’s a public health crisis and one that demands our immediate action, and that is exactly what we’re doing here today,” Sewell said. “I am proud to represent over 100,000 children and it is among my top priority to safeguard, to ensure their well-being especially in the classroom.” With the five...