DOVER, De. - A bill signed into law by Governor John Carney Friday is going to make a big impact on some of Delaware's smallest constituents.
House Bill 100, now a law, is a measure that aims at making mental health resources available for children in elementary schools across the state. The Delaware State Education Association has been lobbying the General Assembly for over a year to get the measure passed. Representative Valerie Longhurst, who sponsored the bill, told WBOC in a statement this piece of legislation will help students who have "slipped between the gaps in our behavioral health network."
"By establishing a mental health services funding unit for each elementary school in our state, we are putting our students’ mental wellness at the front of the line and equipping them with the tools they need to overcome their emotional challenges in their most formative years," said Longhurst in a statement. "This critical funding could not come at a more dire time, with many children still experiencing stress, anxiety, and trauma from the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m grateful that we were able to achieve an unanimous victory on HB 100 and I look forward to seeing this implemented in every Delaware elementary school."
The law already sets aside $8 million in funding for 2022, and is to be fully funded by 2024. The funding guarantees that the for every 250 students, there will be 1 mental health professional.
"What our kids, even in elementary school are actually going through, these are adult situations, adult feelings in very little bodies, and they need help. And this bill aims to be able to put the people in place to provide that help statewide," said Kristen Dwyer, Director of Legislation and Political Organizing for DSEA.
According DSEA, Delaware ranks 34th in the nation when it comes to the ratio between students and mental health professionals in elementary schools. Not only will the law help students in need, but also help teachers to provide a better learning environment for all students.
"We would hear from educators I am trained to instruct, I am here as a first responder in my classroom when a student is having a bad day, a difficult day. But our educators can tell you that a difficult day looks different for each and every student. How student's manifest what they're going through in their own minds or at home is different between every single child," explained Dwyer.
WBOC also spoke to Dr. Colleen Allorto, a pediatrician from Bayhealth today about the bill. She said it's important to teach children it's ok to discuss their feelings, and coping mechanisms to deal with them. Allorto says that this law will help set kids up for future success by providing them these resources in school.