Carper, Coons, Carney announce $1 million for mental health and substance abuse services

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney today announced a total of $1,000,000 in Department of Health and Human Services funding for the Delaware Department of Services to Children, Youth and Families (DSCYF) to create a sustainable statewide system of care for children with serious emotional disturbances; improve behavioral health outcomes; and increase access to services as well as youth/family involvement in their child’s mental health treatment. 

“I believe parental and family involvement can make a huge difference in the life of a child,” Senator Carper said. “But sometimes, parents and family members need extra help and guidance to navigate the complex emotional and behavioral issues a child may have. This grant will support outreach to those families who need it the most.”

“Support from the community can mean all the difference for at-risk youth,” Senator Coons said. “The staff at the Department of Services to Children, Youth and Families works hard to help support strong families for Delaware’s children, and this grant will help them impact even more lives.”

“There is no substitute in a child’s life for a strong, involved family,” Congressman Carney said. “So many of the challenges that young people experience today would be easier to handle with the support and guidance of positive adult role models.  This federal grant will help the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Families support Delaware families and provide a more stable environment to keep children on the right path.”

The grant will help DSCYF improve its system in order to better meet the needs of Delaware’s children. The federal funding will be used, in part, to help DSCYF provide consultations and staff training for better engaging families in their children’s
decision-making.