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St. Rose of Lima Awarded Grant to Expand Student Mental Health Support
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Denison has been selected as one of just three schools in the Diocese of Sioux City to receive new funding aimed at strengthening student mental health services.
The Wellmark Foundation has awarded the school a three-year School-Centered Behavioral Health grant, which will provide St. Rose students with weekly, on-site support from a Catholic Charities therapist. The therapist will be available one full day each week, reducing barriers such as missed school, missed work for parents, or long travel times for families seeking care.
Laura Jackson, Executive Vice President of Health Improvement at Wellmark and Chair of the Wellmark Foundation, emphasized the importance of this investment:
“Schools play a vital role in our communities and school-centered mental and behavioral health services can be a game changer for youth, families, and schools,” Jackson said. “By working to close these gaps and address behavioral health challenges early, we can help students develop social and emotional skills that are important to living a long, healthy life.”
The grant is part of a larger effort to address mental and behavioral health challenges facing Iowa’s youth, particularly in rural communities where access to care can be limited. Along with St. Rose of Lima, St. Patrick School in Sheldon and St. Mary School in Storm Lake are also receiving funding through the initiative.
