This article is one of a series of articles produced by Word in Black through support provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Word In Black is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media outlets across the country.
By Chris B. Bennett, The Seattle Medium
In response to calls for action from students after the deadly shooting at Ingraham High School in Seattle, the Seattle City Council’s Budget Committee unanimously approved a proposal on Monday to increase mental health funding for schools. The proposal, submitted jointly by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, will allocate $4 million towards mental health resources for K-12 students in Seattle Public Schools over the next two years.
According to Harrell, this $4 million investment will build upon his proposed budget increase of $1 million in school related funding, and a joint amendment that invests another $1 million over the biennium.
In addition, a proposed balancing package by Mosqueda will dedicate $2 million in JumpStart Payroll Tax funds to also go towards K-12 mental health resources. These investments will bring the total funding from the city for mental health services and school-based health centers — which provide increased access to mental health resources, improve health equity, and strengthen screening, intervention, and prevention efforts for students in need — to $9.4 million in 2023 and $9.6 million in 2024.
These investments also fall in line with requests from community activists to increase mental health resources for all school age children in Seattle.
“Student voices have been unequivocal following the heartbreaking Ingraham High School shooting,” said Harrell. Preventing the next tragedy requires investing in mental health support and prioritizing gun safety. As we enter the final stages of budget deliberations, we are responding to urgent student requests by increasing resources in mental health for our students and youth.
“During a time of crisis and loss, it is our paramount responsibility to urgently respond to meet the needs of our community, and in the aftermath of the tragic Ingraham High School shooting, we must listen to students’ voices and follow best practices as we prioritize the critical importance of increasing access to mental health resources,” says Mosqueda. “This is one step towards meeting the student’s demands, an indication that we have much more work to do, and shows our commitment to doing that work together.”
While the state is ultimately responsible for education funding, both Harrell and Mosqueda say this action will provide stopgap funding to respond to the immediate needs of students, and that they will continue to push the state to permanently increase investments in mental health resources, counselors, and other critical services to ensure the behavioral health and well-being of all kids in the public school system.
“While we push the state to further invest in this critical need, we are not waiting to ensure students receive the expanded support that they need right now,” said Harrell.
The City Council will consider final passage of the budget next Mon., Nov. 28 and Tues., Nov. 29.
