BLAINE, WA. – The Blaine School District will be debuting the new position of behavioral health coach after the Whatcom County Council unanimously voted to provide the funding.

The Northern Light reports in their latest meeting the council approved $315,000 from the county’s behavioral health sales tax to be allocated to cover three years’ salary for the new job.

Officials say they believe the position will give much needed help to teachers dealing with students behavioral and mental health in classrooms.

The move comes after recent Department of Health studies showed the pandemic had serious adverse effects on the mental health of teenagers.