Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Announces over $4.7 Million in Funding to Expand Mental Health Services in South Texas Schools

Contact: Alexis Torres

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced $4,790,545 in federal funding over the next four years for the Region One Education Service Center to expand mental health services for nearly 16,000 South Texas students across 34 campuses. Specifically, funding will be delivered through a four-year multi-cycle award through the U.S. Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Program to recruit, hire and train credentialed school psychologists. For the Fiscal Year 2026 cycle, Region One Education Service Center will receive $1,198,055. 

“School should be safe havens where students feel empowered to seek support for the challenges they may face at home or in the classroom,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Strengthening the pipeline of trained psychologists in rural areas who can provide early identification and assistance to the mental health needs of a child makes all the difference. With this funding, we will assure that every student—regardless of zip code—has the trusted support and tools to succeed in life.”  

In collaboration with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and other partners, this mental health initiative will serve several participating school systems, including Mercedes Independent School District (ISD), Raymondville ISD and Rio Hondo ISD. It will also focus on recruiting and onboarding new school psychologists (10 initially, increasing by 2 each year); training educators to support an expanded pool of highly skilled and prepared school psychologists through fieldwork and credit-bearing learning experiences; strengthening clinical practice through technical assistance, professional development and targeted skill development in behavioral and mental health services; and increasing placements for school psychologists in practicum and internship settings.