Grandview, WA — Grandview School District has been awarded a $7.5 million federal Project AWARE grant to strengthen mental health, wellness, prevention, early identification, and connections to support for students and families across the district.

The five-year grant will provide $1.5 million annually through 2031, allowing the district to build a more comprehensive and sustainable system of student mental health support from TK–12.

“This is an incredible investment in the students and families of Grandview,” said Dr. Rob Darling, Superintendent of Grandview School District. “Our staff work every day to support students who come to us with different experiences, challenges and needs. Project AWARE gives us the resources to strengthen that work, identify needs earlier and make sure students and families are connected to support when they need it. It also gives us the support and time to implement a program that can be sustained after the grant funding ends”

Project AWARE — Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education — is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Grandview was one of approximately 31 recipients nationwide and one of three in Washington State selected for the grant.

Project AWARE will focus on three key areas: prevention, early identification and connection to support.

Over the next five years, the grant will allow Grandview School District to add new mental health staff and services, expand prevention and wellness programming, provide training for staff and community members, strengthen partnerships with local providers, and create additional opportunities to engage and support families.

Approximately three-quarters of the district’s annual Project AWARE funding will support new staff working directly with students and families. The remaining funds will support training, program materials, independent evaluation, family outreach and other costs necessary to carry out the grant.

The grant covers the full cost of the program. No levy or district general fund dollars are required to operate Project AWARE.

The Project AWARE award follows Grandview School District’s $4 million federal grant announced in February 2026 to establish and lead the Yakima Valley School Psychology Consortium, a regional initiative focused on addressing shortages of school psychologists in rural communities.

Together, the two awards represent more than $11 million in federal grant funding secured in 2026 to strengthen mental health services, workforce development, and student support in Grandview and the surrounding region.

Implementation of Project AWARE begins this fall with hiring, training, and partnership development. Services will begin rolling out in schools by Spring 2027, with implementation across district schools planned by the end of the 2026–27 school year.

For additional information about Project AWARE, including funding, goals, services and frequently asked questions, visit: https://www.gsd200.org/about-us/project-aware