EDUCATION
Sherrill signs new law expanding mental health resources in schools
Mia D. BoykinCherry Hill Courier-Post
Oct. 4, 2026, 4:50 a.m. ET
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill released a roundup of mental health re into full swing
With more than $125 million invested in school and community-based wellness programs, here are some of the highlights
SPARK Pilot Program signed into law
The School-Based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids (SPARK) is a new piece of legislation signed into law Sept. 28. The program is to create additional pathways to connect students with behavioral health support
Approximately $8 million in funding is budgeted to support the program, which is to begin delivering services in early 2027. The up to 10 districts recruited throughout the fall are to be used to evaluate models over an 18-month period
“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,” Sherrill said in a press release on the new program
Services are to be available to K-12 students in participating districts upon referral by a teacher or a school mental health professional, with permission from legal guardians
New Jersey Student Statewide Support Services (NJ4S)
The NJ4S network is operated by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (NJDCF), providing social, emotional, and mental well-being for students and families
For participating districts, NJ4S provides specialized prevention and brief intervention services for students who may be struggling. Each NJ4S hub also has three tiers of support, ranging from all-ages support to specified groups
These hubs are broken down by county. Here are the ones based in South Jersey:
These hubs aren’t meant for long-term care or crisis intervention, but may be a starting point for learning re
Additional refying students who need access to re
- Prevent Suicide NJ (PSNJ) provides training and engagement opportunities for both teachers, parents, and young people.
- Mental Health First Aid offers training to educators and community members on the warning signs and symptoms of behavioral health issues and behavioral threat assessment, specifically in K-12 settings.
- Lifelines Trilogy, implemented by the New Jersey Department of Health, offers comprehensive training in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention for school communities.
Mia Boykin is an education/watchdog reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: mboykin@gannettnj.com. Please consider a digital subscription
