LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 9, 2022) — Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) has issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget recommendations, which includes funding to expand access to mental health care services for Michigan students:
“Students in classrooms across Michigan have endured a harrowing journey these past few years, having weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to remote learning — all the while continuing to live in a state of near-constant anxiety due to continued threats of school violence. For anyone not paying attention: our kids are not okay.
“Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget recommendations unveiled today would significantly alter the array of services available to students and educators by creating school-based health clinics that would offer access to onsite mental health screenings conducted by professionals. Such clinics would help identify areas for intervention and immediately respond to the needs of the student.
“As a legislator, and as a mother, I wholeheartedly support these investments, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make this funding proposal a reality. We cannot allow our children to wait for help any longer; the time to act has arrived and it is now.”
Gov. Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget recommendation would provide $361 million for school mental health.
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