UB awarded $3.5M to address mental health issues in rural areas
Published January 8, 2025
WKBW reports that the UB School of Social Work has received a $3.59 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch a fellowship program to bring more mental health professionals into rural schools in Western New York.
“Research shows that students in rural schools often report higher rates of depression and feelings of isolation compared to their urban counterparts,” explained Katie C. Stalker, associate professor and director of field education in the School of Social Work. “This program is about meeting those needs where they are.”
The program will partner with Erie 1 BOCES and focus on four rural school districts: Akron, Alden, Medina and Niagara-Wheatfield.