Battle Ground Public Schools announced Wednesday it received a five year, $5 million grant to support mental health services and behavioral health education in the district.

The funding comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal department that oversees grant programs to benefit school districts and other public education institutions. Battle Ground was the only school district in Washington to receive funding from the grant program this year.

The district said in a press release Wednesday the funding would be used to “increase access to mental health services; provide staff, student, and community training on identifying and responding to mental health issues; expand access to curriculum; and help staff meet students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs.”

Battle Ground previously received a $5 million grant in the same program in 2014 and used the funding to bolster similar services.

— Griffin Reilly

Low blood supply drives requests for donations

Washington blood banks are facing extreme shortages of blood donations and blood products. In particular, the shortages are most severe for Type O and Rh negative blood and for platelets.

Blood donations significantly dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, and local blood banks are still being affected. During the current season with the rising cases of influenza, the common cold and COVID-19, people are less likely to donate.

“With less donations, blood banks worry they will not be able to meet the need for blood and blood products, like plasma, during a large emergency or natural disaster,” Northwest Blood Coalition said

To donate blood, the community can easily schedule appointments by visiting Northwest Blood Coalition members’ websites: Vitalant, Cascade Regional Blood Services, Bloodworks Northwest and American Red Cross.

—Chrissy Booker