BOARD of Education member Andrew Orsini on Wednesday said he is grateful to U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan for supporting a U.S. House bill that would provide federal funds for the CNMI Public School System’s mental health services.
He added that Kilili “has always been a strong proponent [of] education throughout the CNMI.”
In an interview, Orsini said, “Students will have difficulty solving math problems at school if their mind is thinking about problems at home.”
In his online newsletter, Kilili said PSS stands to share $25 million with other insular area school districts to fund mental health services for students under the Mental Health Matters Act, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday last week.
Kilili said he joined Rep. Mark DeSaulnier D-Ca., in introducing the bill, H.R. 7780, in May.
The grant funds could be used to recruit and retain school-based mental health service providers, Kilili said.
PSS, he added, “serves a high percentage of students from families with incomes below the poverty line who might not be able to afford mental healthcare for their children.”
“I believe students, regardless of income, should have access to the healthcare they need. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration,” Kilili added.
Orsini said, “We are thankful for these funds so we can help these students get the support they need and feel at home when they come to school.”
He added that the funds from the U.S. House bill “will augment and provide additional support to what was previously provided for PSS due to the pandemic.”
Board of Education member Andrew Orsini speaks during a BOE meeting on Capital Hill.
