On April 30, the Trump administration announced the cancellation of approximately one billion dollars in federal grants dedicated to mental health programs in public schools. These funds, which were initially created under President Biden in the wake of the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, were aimed at increasing access to mental health professionals on campuses nationwide. 

The Trump administration cited concerns over how the funds were being used, specifically claiming that too much of the money was allocated toward diversity, equity and inclusion rather than direct mental health services. 

In Marin County, where schools like Redwood have long-standing wellness programs, the decision has raised concern among school mental health professionals. Spencer DeWoody, a therapist at the Wellness Center, expressed frustration about the broader implications of the cuts. 

“Students nationwide are going to have access to fewer supportive services for mental health, and that’s really frustrating as a social worker,” DeWoody said. 

Redwood’s wellness services are somewhat protected from these new policies due to local funding and community support, partnering with the Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) and receiving financial backing from the Tam District Foundation.

“We have partnerships with BACR, which has contract workers who are on site but work for the nonprofit organization,” DeWoody said. “The district has a long-standing contract with them, so I do not think things will change anytime soon.”

Though pointing out Redwood’s fortunate situation, DeWwoody is still concerned for students in less affluent areas. 

“I’m especially concerned for schools with fewer resources; mental health support could be the first thing they are forced to cut,” DeWoody said. 

For many students, school is the only place where mental health care is accessible. 

“I just feel like there will be less mental health support at schools and for a lot of students, school is the only place they feel safe and have a chance to meet with a mental health provider,” DeWoody said. 

The funding cuts have drawn criticism from mental health and education advocates nationwide. 

Layla Renee Conreras, founder of Change for Chee, a school safety and mental health advocacy group formed after the Georgia school shooting, called the decision “deeply disappointing and dangerous,” in a statement to Fox Five Atlanta. 

“We need to be building more support systems, not dismantling them,” Conreras said.

In response to the media backlash, Madi Biedermann, a spokesperson for the Department of Education, stated that the administration does not intend to eliminate mental health funding entirely, but instead restructure it. 

“The department plans to re-envision and recompete its mental health program funds to support students’ behavioral health needs more effectively,” Biedermann said. 

While schools like Redwood are fortunate enough to have substantial local funding and long-standing partnerships to maintain our mental health programs, the loss of federal support raises serious concerns for less resourced communities. School is their only mental health resource for many students across the country. Without sustained investment from the government, advocates worry that the students who need help the most will be the first to go without.