The Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services has landed a $7.48 million federal grant to expand mental health support for students across the region's 23 school districts.

The grant, awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through its Project AWARE program, is part of a $247.9 million national package the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Sept. 25. Project AWARE, which stands for Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education, received $54.9 million of that total to help education agencies improve mental health services for school-aged children.

NKCES, based in Cold Spring, plans to use the money to create the Northern Kentucky Center for AWAREness and Empowerment (NKCAE). The new center will connect schools with behavioral health resources, train educators to recognize and respond to student needs, and build what the organization calls a lasting regional support network.

Project work begins Wednesday, Sept. 30.

"This award represents an extraordinary investment in the students, families, and educators of Northern Kentucky," NKCES Executive Director Dr. Amy Razor said in a statement. Razor said the grant gives the region a chance to build a coordinated system of support larger than any single district could create on its own.

Dr. Robb Smith, NKCES chief academic officer, said the funding will let the organization strengthen connections between schools, families and communities so districts have access to coordinated, sustainable supports for public school students. Dr. Kim Weber, assistant director of learning and empowerment, said NKCES will build on current efforts to expand mental health resources for students, families and educators across the region.

The NKY Chamber of Commerce amplified the announcement on Sept. 29, calling it "big news" for the region.

NKCES serves 23 member districts across Northern Kentucky but has not specified which will participate in the NKCAE programming.

NKCES has not announced a public information session or timeline for when schools will begin seeing new services.