Nevada has received an $8.6 million federal grant for behavioral health programs in schools.
The funding announced Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services is for a four-year period.
It is intended to fund pilot studies to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of school programs designed to improve behavioral health.
Sub-grants will be awarded to the Children’s Cabinet of Northern Nevada, Healthy Communities Coalition in Lyon County and the Nye County Community Coalition.
Initial funding will be used to gather data and conduct research.
From there, programs will be designed to improve access to behavioral health services and to reduce the number of students who abuse substances and who are exposed to violence.
Officials say if the pilot projects are successful the program will be implemented statewide.