The Wellmark Foundation announced today a new $5 million grant program aimed at addressing the mental and behavioral health crisis among Iowa’s youth. The School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant will provide access to mental and behavioral health services in rural Iowa schools. The Wellmark Foundation will award a maximum of one grant per school district and determine funding amounts based on student enrollment and the types of mental and behavioral health services requested, a news release said. “Schools are the heart of our rural communities. They experience the struggles our children face and are in a unique position to intervene early and effectively,” Laura Jackson, executive vice president of health improvement at Wellmark and chair of the Wellmark Foundation, said in a prepared statement. “This grant will enable better health outcomes for our kids, meeting them where they are, removing barriers to mental and behavioral health care access and supporting the critical role schools play in the development of Iowa youth.” Applications are now open and information and eligibility criteria is available online.