Hundreds of Marin students who receive mental health support are a step closer keeping that help in place following a federal court decision against the Trump administration.
The case involves a lawsuit filed in June by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and officials of 15 other states against Trump’s order in April to cancel millions in mental health grants appropriated by Congress. The administration said it was opposed to diversity considerations that were part of the grants.
Marin had been awarded two such grants worth $14.5 million over five years. With the first year already spent to hire nine full-time licensed mental health providers, 16 college interns and a clinical supervisor, the balance of $12.5 million for the next four years will be lost effective Dec. 31 if the lawsuit fails, said Lisa Miller, assistant superintendent in the Marin County Office of Education.
“The impact of losing these grants would be profound. I can’t overstate it,” Miller said. “All of those positions provide direct services to children who have demonstrated that there is some level of support that they need.”
Miller said the services could include suicide risk assessments, bullying prevention or helping students exposed to trauma.
So far, federal judges have ruled twice in favor of a preliminary injunction to block the Trump administration’s efforts until the lawsuit is heard in court. The first such ruling was on Oct. 21. On Dec. 4, a panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington state denied the administration’s appeal challenging the preliminary injunction.
“We are pleased with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to decline to stay our injunction stopping the Trump Administration’s attempt to yank mental health funding from California schools,” Bonta’s office said in an email Tuesday. “These grants support students in high-need, low-income and rural schools. The mental health services are critical to students’ well-being, safety and academic success.”
On Thursday, a federal judge in Seattle heard oral arguments in the case. The states have filed a motion for summary judgment that would make the temporary injunction a permanent block and release the grant funds.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Miller said.
Meanwhile, Miller said, the full-time counselors are in place at the Marin County Office of Education’s alternative school, the Novato Unified School District and the San Rafael High School District. The college interns are working in the Novato, San Rafael, Miller Creek, Sausalito Marin City and Shoreline Unified school districts.
Even though the grant money for the first year runs out Dec. 31, the mental health providers will stay in place at their school districts through June because of a budget transfer from the county education office that covers their salaries through the end of the school year, Miller said.
John Carroll, the county superintendent of schools, said the progress in the case so far indicates that joining forces with other school districts and other states has power in terms of resistance.
“I think when institutions like school districts and states work together, it shows that it can be done,” Carroll said. “While the best part is getting the $12.5 million released for school mental health in Marin County, it also shows that when we stand up to someone who’s trying to do the wrong thing, we can make a difference.”
Congress first appropriated funding for the mental health grants after the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
