Kean receives grant for program in Belleville schools

A $4.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will fund a Kean University program designed to increase diversity among school psychologists while proactively addressing student mental health in the Belleville School District.

The Kean Department of Advanced Psychology, which offers graduate degrees in school and clinical psychology, is placing students in internships and externships to help develop the BeWell Mental Health Initiative in Belleville’s schools.

“As New Jersey’s urban research university, Kean is dedicated to addressing the needs of urban communities, including the mental health needs of children and individuals in our public schools,” Kean President Lamont O. Repollet said. “School psychologists play a crucial role, especially now when our communities continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This innovative partnership allows us to assist students, teachers and families in Belleville while increasing the ranks of diverse school psychologists throughout New Jersey.”

The BeWell Mental Health Initiative is funded by a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Kean assistant professor Aaron A. Gubi, director of Kean Psychological Serv- ices, worked with Kean’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and applied for the grant.

He said the project fits the university’s mission of urban research, especially by recruiting diverse school psychology students. Ultimately, the goal includes placing Kean graduate students in jobs in Belleville and other high-need school districts.

“I thought our university and program fit perfectly with this grant,” Gubi said, “working both to improve a local urban school district and strengthening the pipeline of school psychology professionals in an urban setting.”

The advanced psychology department began working with Belleville a few years ago, placing graduate students to help during the pandemic-related transition to remote learning. The new initiative expands the partnership. Kean graduate students will work with Belleville on a multitiered system of mental health supports, including activities such as schoolwide social-emotional learning, classroom sessions on bullying and other topics, and small-group “lunch bunch” discussions. Kean students will also work with Belleville staff to identify students or families who may need further services.