(Des Moines, Iowa) -- The Iowa Department of Education is partnering with the University of Iowa to address the mental health needs of students across the state.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the launch of the new Iowa Center for School Mental Health at a news conference this morning. The center will receive 20 million dollars of federal COVID relief funds.
Dr. Ann Lebo, Director of the Iowa Department of Education, said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of mental health for K-12 students across the state, and added that the new center will expand mental health services and training for teachers, especially in rural areas.