OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) is putting student health first -both in body and mind.

The district is taking a proactive approach to support the overall well-being of students through its 2025-26 Mental Health Assistance Allocation Plan, in compliance with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. Under the law, all Florida school districts must submit a comprehensive mental health plan to the Department of Education by Aug. 1 of each fiscal year.

For the upcoming school year, MCPS is expecting a mental health allocation of $2,995,220, with an estimated $2,000,000 carried over from 2024-25. This brings the district’s total mental health funding to $4,995,220.

This funding has been critical for enhancing student support. The district has used it to purchase a universal screener, hire six additional school psychologists, ten social workers, and one school social worker. It also allowed for expanded curriculum to support tiered interventions for identified students and provided stipends to train staff in mental health awareness.

Goals for the 2025-26 year include:

Goal One

Improve access to school-based mental health supports by ensuring schools are appropriately staffed with trained providers and students are assessed for mental health needs.

Goal Two

Integrate a continuum of mental health supports within a multi-tiered system of supports.

Goal Three

Provide relevant and ongoing mental health professional development for all school employees.

Training staff to recognize signs of mental health needs enables timely and appropriate responses. Staff will also learn how to refer students to school-based multi-disciplinary teams to ensure interventions are matched to each student’s level of need.

Goal Four

Collaborate with community agencies and other stakeholders to ensure students and families have access to wrap-around services.

Community partners can provide a wide range of services both in and outside of schools. Schools play a vital role in identifying needs and connecting families with the right resources.

Goal Five

Provide relevant and ongoing mental health information and resources for parents.

Parental engagement is key as it plays an integral role in students’ academic and behavioral success.

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