KENTUCKY — As part of the second round of the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund 2 (GEER II), Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced Thursday that $15 million in grants are being awarded to 150 family resource and youth services centers (FRYSCs) across the Commonwealth.

According to a press release from Beshear's office, the grants will fund educational support services needed due to COVID-19’s impact on schools, youth and families. The targeted grants have a special focus on early childhood education and child care, as well as family crisis and mental health counseling.

Local FRYSCs applied for a maximum allocation of $100,000.

“As an education-first administration, we are going to make sure that Kentucky educators, students and families have the support they need as we move out of the COVID-19 crisis,” Beshear said in a press release. “This funding will help parents return to work knowing their children are learning in a safe, caring place, and it will also help families bounce back from the mental and emotional tolls of the past year.”

Beshear said the slew of grants will be managed by the Division of Family Resource and Youth Services Centers in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. More than 850 FRYSCs provide services to children, youth and families in approximately 1,200 Kentucky schools.

“Congratulations to the FRYSCs that have been selected for the second round of GEER II funding,” said Coleman, who also serves as secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. “As an educator and former school administrator, I have witnessed how much our FRYSCs mean to our schools and students. They stand in the gap for the most vulnerable students and connect schools to the home and community, so they are the best conduit for these grants.”

The full list of FRYSCs receiving grants can be found here.