Hunter
07/21/22
The University of Iowa College of Education has received a $15 million donation for training and research in school mental health.
The Gazette reports that the Iowa Center for School Mental Health, will be renamed the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health to honor the gift from the Scanlan Family Foundation out of Chicago. Their donation is the largest gift ever to the College of Education.
The school was founded last summer with $20 million in federal pandemic relief money.
The gift will expand clinical support for school mental health with the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Center, which helps address the mental health needs of Iowa students and staff. Suicide rates began to escalate during the COVID-19 pandemic among teens, who found themselves isolated and experiencing depression and anxiety.
According to data from the University, one in 13 Iowa high school students have attempted suicide one or more times, the UI reported.
The Belin-Blank Center will provide services to school to help with COVID-19 mental issues and prepare for future support of mental health across the state of Iowa.
College of Education Dean Dan Clay told the paper that the Scanlan gift will also be used to focus on the mental health of veterans and military families.
The state Board of Regents is expected to approve the renaming of the school at its meeting next week.