The Warren County School District has locked in grant dollars to fund several mental health and substance abuse programs for students.

In total, Superintendent Gary Weber said that almost “a half a million dollars were funded for over the next two years.”

The programs include elementary and secondary versions of the Student Assistance Program, substance abuse prevention counseling by Family Services of Warren County as well as multiple mental health and school safety grants that can be used for a wide variety of initiatives.

“That’s a huge bonus for the district,” Weber said. “Not all schools were able to secure those funds.”

Several of the grants come through PCCD — the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Contracts with Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems were approved last week for both the elementary and secondary Student Assistance Programs.

According to information from WCSD administration, the Student Assistance Program “is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success.”

Director of Pupil Services Dr. Patricia Mead said the secondary piece of SAP is “paid through Human Services and other resources in the community.”

A contract was also approved with Family Services of Warren County. Family Services will provide substance abuse prevention education and counseling at the Warren County Career Center.

Mead said the district would also be “extending it to the outlying schools.”

Two additional grants totaling about $250,000 will give the district latitude “to provide some school safety and student mental health services,” she added.