Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WILMINGTON, Del.—U.S. Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) today joined leaders of Jewish Family Services Delaware (JFS) and counselors-in-training at the Jewish Community Center to celebrate $3.5 million in federal funding to help those counseling fellows achieve their licensing and improve mental health services in the First State.
Senators Carper, Coons, and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester were able to nearly double the funds initially requested by JFS to bolster Delaware’s mental health resources. JFS at first sought $1.6 million from the federal government but eventually increased their request to $3.5 million in order to help a greater number of Delawareans. Through his work on Senate Appropriations Committee, and with the support of Senator Carper and Representative Blunt Rochester, Senator Coons was able to secure the funding for Jewish Family Services of Delaware’s Mental Health Fellowship Program. The money will create 16 fellowships for new paid, licensed professionals who aid anyone in Delaware in need of such services, regardless of race, religion, orientation, or identity. The goal is to eventually bring on 20 counselors in total.
“In the course of their 123-year history, Jewish Family Services of Delaware have been providing crucial mental health services to any Delawarean in need for years,” said Delaware’s congressional delegation. “We’re excited this funding will help JFS continue to provide support and counseling so important during these difficult times and in the face of increasing need.”
“We’ve got a big mental health problem across the nation, and part of it is that we don’t have enough licensed providers. This is targeting that problem, and looking to be a part of the solution,” said JFS Delaware Board President Peter Hurd. “We’re going to have to tackle a number of other hurdles, so thank you for setting us on a great path to start addressing some of the biggest.”
“This is a big deal,” said Wendell Covell, Clinical Director of the JFS Delaware Fellowship Program. “JFS Delaware has a group called Helping the Helpers, and that really means something to me because when you help the helpers, we can help the whole community. Our social workers, our therapists, when the crisis hits, they’re the first people to show up. So, thank you for helping these fellows, so they can go on to help others. These fellows will go on to provide 14,000 individual, group, and family mental health sessions, and serve over 2,000 Delawareans.”
“I work in the community with families, I work with individuals, and what is needed right now is compassion, is understanding, is people to provide services with expertise and without judgment,” said Laura Dickol, a Social Work Fellow. “That’s the goal I see all of these fellows working toward, and it’s not just a two-year process. This is a lifelong learning opportunity, and we’re in the grind right now. Luckily, we’re in it together.”
Monday’s event celebrated the launch of the Mental Health Fellowship Program, which got underway in part thanks to these funds. It also provided an opportunity to showcase some of the fellows currently receiving their training. For photos of the event, click here.
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