Children's Mental Health

The combined $5.2 million in funding was provided through the Department of Education's Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program.

On "Florida Matters: Live & Local," we highlight courage and community — strengthening young minds, fighting for felons' rights, a historically Black golf course and houses built to beat a Category 5 hurricane.

The system looks for muscle movements on children's faces — whether they are smiling, neutral, looking at a parent or therapist, or looking down.

The law will improve access to mental health care in rural and underserved schools.

Florida was the first state to pass a law regulating use of cellphones in schools in 2023 and has another bill awaiting the governor's signature this year. Alaska and Nebraska just became the 25th and 26th.

Here's a look at how state funding is allocated, how much each district receives, and the ways school leaders are spending those funds.

The school district is considering a new approach that shifts away from in-school therapy.

The bill has a strong supporter in Senate President Ben Albritton

Hearing words like "disaster" or "explosive" when referring to storms can lead to hurricane anxiety, which can manifest physically or emotionally. A child psychologist offers insight for parents.

Depression and anxiety are leading causes of illness for teenagers. A group of Sarasota teens and young adults are helping their peers cope with these issues.

The program will allow graduates to become credentialed as school psychologists by the Florida Department of Education and become nationally certified school psychologists.

Young entrepreneurs and activists are worried about a proposal to ban social media for kids under 16 — even with consent of their parents. The state Senate may still make further changes to the bill.