Sarasota County Schools, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Florida Center for Early Childhood are working together to offer early childhood mental health services in local elementary schools.

Over the course of the year, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has committed $150,000 from the Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe Fund and $50,000 from the Tom and Carol Williams Fund. The funds ensure that children at Alta Vista, Emma E. Booker, Tuttle and Gocio elementary schools have access to on-site mental health services.

An additional $17,000 in grant funding will be provided to evaluate and report on the impact of the program. With a contribution of $25,000 to The Florida Center, the Willa and Robert Bernhard Fund at The Community Foundation is also helping to provide critical services to children from birth through age eight.