Grayson College Receives More Than $2 Million in Grant Funding to Expand Student Mental Health Support and Community Initiatives
Grayson College has been awarded more than $2 million in grant funding that will expand student support services, strengthen community partnerships and enhance educational opportunities across Texoma.
The Moody Foundation has awarded Grayson College a three-year, $2 million grant focused on expanding student mental health services and developing campus and community resources designed to address the growing mental health needs of students.
The comprehensive initiative is expected to serve approximately 2,175 students and represents a significant investment in student wellbeing and success.
"This grant allows us to provide a more holistic approach to supporting our students," said Dr. Jeremy McMillen, president of Grayson College. "Student success extends beyond the classroom. By expanding mental health services, increasing emergency assistance and strengthening partnerships throughout our community, we are helping students overcome barriers so they can thrive academically and personally."
Funding from the Moody Foundation grant will allow Grayson College to hire an additional Licensed Mental Health Professional, a new Case Manager and a part-time student worker to support operations within the Grayson Counseling and Social Services Department.
The grant will also fund software to improve case management and referral tracking, ensuring students receive coordinated and timely support.
More than $375,000 of the funding is dedicated to direct student assistance, including emergency aid for housing, medical care, childcare, hot meals and fuel vouchers. The grant will also provide nutritional snacks for Vic's Market and essential hygiene kits for students in need.
In addition, the initiative creates scholarship opportunities for students pursuing careers in behavioral health through Mental Health Technician and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing certification pathways.
The grant extends beyond the College by providing enhanced mental health training opportunities for law enforcement professionals through the Texas Regional Police Academy. Working with community stakeholders, the academy will develop new virtual reality simulations based on common mental health crisis scenarios experienced throughout Grayson and Fannin counties. Additional training opportunities will focus on mental health awareness, resilience and crisis response for first responders.
Educational programming funded through the grant will include specialized training for the College's Behavioral Intervention Team, suicide awareness and prevention initiatives, professional development opportunities for counselors and case managers and, beginning in years two and three of the grant, a full-day mental health conference hosted on campus.
Grayson College will collaborate with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute to provide technical support throughout the implementation of the initiative. The grant also supports the addition of a full-time Grant Coordinator to oversee the project's activities and outcomes.