As the 2026-2027 school year begins, Governor Mikie Sherrill has highlighted more than $125 million in state investment in school- and community-based mental health and wellness programs for New Jersey students, families, and educators.
The Governor also signed legislation establishing the School-Based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids (SPARK) pilot program, which is backed by $8 million in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget to connect students with behavioral health services within the school community.
"Our kids are facing unprecedented pressures, and as they head back to school, we need to make sure they know that help is there when they need it. Combating the youth mental health crisis takes all of us - families, educators, and government working together to ensure that our schools are places where every child feels supported and ready to succeed," said Governor Mikie Sherrill. "From reducing digital distractions in the classroom to strengthening school-based mental health services and making it easier for students to connect with care, we are taking a comprehensive approach to supporting the well-being of New Jersey's young people. With the launch of SPARK, we are building the continuum of supports to make sure every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive."
The SPARK program, implemented by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families in consultation with the Department of Education, will offer psychiatric consultations, assessments, triage, and short-term stabilization for students awaiting longer-term care. It will also refer students and families to school- and community-based providers, coordinate care, support students returning to school after a mental health crisis, and provide districts with a secure platform to manage behavioral incidents, suicide risk screenings, and harassment, intimidation, and bullying reports.
Services will be available to K-12 students in participating districts upon referral by a teacher or school mental health professional, with parental permission. The pilot will begin delivering services in early 2027 in up to 10 districts selected by NJDCF, with recruitment this fall and a Request for Proposals expected in the coming weeks for a supporting mobile application.
"We know that when students feel safe, supported, and connected, they are better able to learn and thrive. The SPARK program offers an opportunity for New Jersey to test innovative models for increasing student access to clinical mental and behavioral health services," said Dr. Lily Laux, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education.
The state's existing supports include the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services network, 90 School-Based Youth Services Programs, and, beginning this school year, bell-to-bell restrictions on internet-enabled devices in all public school districts. Students and families can also reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Children's System of Care, 2NDFLOOR, and NJ Mental Health Cares.