Pens, Backpacks, and Mental Health Services - It’s a New School Year

By Vin Gopal

As children and families prepare to start a new school year, the Legislative District 11 office continues to look for innovative ways of ensuring that students have the tools they need for success, including access to mental health services.

As chair of the state Senate Education Committee, it is gratifying to report that the committee is discussing ways to create a stable source of funding for mental health services in schools. This will be a topic of focus at our committee meetings when the State Legislature reconvenes next month.  

Education funding and mental health in our schools are top priorities for the Senate Education Committee as well as my Legislative District 11 partners, Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul. We all know that students with mental health disorders are more likely to be unhappy at school, be absent, or exhibit behavioral problems that result in suspensions or being expelled. 

Mental health problems negatively impact student learning, causing poor concentration that leaves them easily distracted and unable to retain information. These students often have poor relationships with their peers and exhibit aggressive behavior. These problems generate a cycle of behavior that impacts the learning environment for the entire class.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported students ages 13 to 17 experienced increased mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and behavior disorders. When younger students from ages 3 and up are included, common diagnoses include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as behavioral and conduct problems, anxiety, and depression.

Schools are in a distinct position to recognize the early signs of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders, and to provide social-emotional support services. That’s why we worked in a bipartisan effort to secure funding in the 2025 state budget for mental health services in schools. We secured funding for mental health services for the LD11 school districts in Ocean Township, Eatontown, Tinton Falls, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, and Fair Haven - $100,000 each - and $250,000 for Asbury Park, for the 2024-2025 school year, as well as other Monmouth County school districts.

However, we need to ensure that those services are available to students and the school community every year. The way to do that is to establish a sustainable funding source.

In other school-related matters, our LD11 office’s annual Back-to-School Drive continues and we want to remind residents that they still have time to donate items. Our Constituent Services Team collects a wide range of items, from pens and notebooks to backpacks, to share with community organizations that distribute them to students and families in need of assistance.

While you may donate items by dropping them off at the Legislative District Office at 802 West Park Avenue, Suite 302, in Ocean during regular business hours, most people choose to donate online. We have set up an LD11 Back-to-School Wishlist on Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/LD11schooldrive. You can buy online and have your donated items delivered directly to our office.

We welcome and thank you in advance for your generosity to our Back-to-School Drive and helping to ensure that more kids start their school year with the tools they need to learn and succeed.

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