The Virginia Department of Education has established the Office of Behavioral Health and Wellness.
This agency will focus on providing support and resources to students across the state who are dealing with mental health and behavioral challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Jan. 5 news release.
The office will be responsible for developing the Virginia Behavioral Health Comprehensive Framework, which aims to improve student outcomes through increased behavioral health resources.
Other office focuses will include the causes and effects of chronic absenteeism, the impact of social media use, opioid and drug use abatement, overdose prevention and the dangers of fentanyl, the release said.