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6/16/2026
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State budget includes Sen. DiMario bill to fund behavioral health training for staff in out-of-school programs
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STATE HOUSE — Sen. Alana M. DiMario is applauding the inclusion of funding in the 2027 state budget to provide staff in after-school programs, vacation and summer camps and other out-of-school programs with training to support the emotional and behavioral health of the children they work with.
Senator DiMario introduced legislation (2026-S 2452) to provide $100,000 in funding for the 2027 fiscal year for this training, which was included in this year’s budget (2026-H 7127Aaa) signed into law by the governor Friday, June 12.
Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (D-Dist. 46, Lincoln, Pawtucket) introduced the companion bill (2026-H 7501) in the House.
“Because children’s learning and development doesn’t end when the final bell rings, Rhode Island has invested in a robust collection of out-of-school programs that help our children learn and grow outside of school. The funding from this bill will go a long way toward maximizing the effectiveness of these programs by ensuring that everyone in these programs has the tools they need to support the emotional and mental health wellbeing of the children they work with. High quality, evidenced-based training programs already exist, so we don’t need to create new programs, just provide the access through this funding. I want to thank President Lawson, Chairman DiPalma and the Senate Finance Committee for finding the funding in the budget for support the emotional health and wellbeing of our children outside the classroom,” said Senator DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham), who works as a licensed mental health counselor in private practice.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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