GEORGIA, (WALB) - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff has secured more than $1.7 million in federal funding to help hire licensed mental health counselors for students in Sumter County.

The funding is being delivered through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and is aimed at expanding access to mental health support in local schools.

According to Sen. Ossoff’s office, the federal resources will be used to bring licensed mental health providers into schools to better support students’ emotional and behavioral needs.

Similar programs funded through the act took effect in Dougherty County, Gwinnett County, and Macon County in 2023.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.