Larson, DeLauro Announce Grants For School-Based Health Centers

In the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, access to mental health services is one of many policy issues discussed as lawmakers try to find ways to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. On Thursday, Reps. John Larson and Rosa DeLauro both announced over $700,000 in grants for School-Based Health Centers to help expand students’ access to both physical as well as mental health care.

School-Based Health Centers provide on-campus care to students through a partnership between the school and a health care provider, like a hospital or community health center. The Affordable Care Act provided funding for these grants in order to improve existing and create additional School-Based Health Centers nationwide.

“Unfortunately Connecticut needs no reminder of how critical it is to make sure young people can access mental, as well as physical health care services,” said DeLauro, who announced grants for Community Health Center in Middletown, Fair Haven Community Health Clinic in New Haven, and Griffin Hospital in Derby. Larson’s funding will go to East Hartford Community HealthCare and Integrated Health Services, which are both in the East Hartford Area.