North Carolina Schools Secured Mental Health Grant

A federal grant will support mental health services in Carteret, Ashe, and Person county school districts.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Financial Aid

North Carolina Schools Secured Mental Health Grant

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The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has secured a $7.5 million federal grant to expand mental health support in schools. Carteret County Public Schools will receive approximately $467,000 annually over five years as part of this initiative.

Why it matters

This initiative seeks to strengthen school behavioral health systems and increase student access to support services. It builds upon previous efforts to foster formal partnerships between educational institutions and local behavioral health providers.

The grant provides $7.5 million to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, with Carteret County Schools receiving roughly $467,000 per year. Previous iterations of this project resulted in 91 new or revised mental health policies.

The players

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

This state agency oversees the administration of public school funding and policy implementation.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

This federal agency leads efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and improve access to services.

Carteret County Public Schools

This public school district serves students in Carteret County, North Carolina.

The details

The districts will use the funding to hire a Project AWARE Director and coach to oversee program implementation. These resources will facilitate direct collaboration with community behavioral health providers to bridge existing gaps in student support systems.

Project AWARE began operating in North Carolina in 2018.
Project AWARE activities will begin in late 2026-2027.
The grant award period spans 2026 through 2031.

Culture Shift

This expansion continues the work of Project AWARE, a long-standing initiative that began in North Carolina in 2018. The program represents a systematic effort to integrate behavioral health resources directly into the public education landscape.

Families in Carteret, Ashe, and Person counties can expect increased access to behavioral health support and clinical resources within their school systems. These changes will likely affect how students receive counseling and behavioral interventions during the school day.

The takeaway

The grant provides a stable, five-year funding pipeline to improve institutional mental health support for students. Families should watch for district announcements regarding new partnerships with community health providers in the coming months.