Congressman Kean hosts community roundtable to address childhood mental health

BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. Friday held a community roundtable at Branchburg Central Middle School to discuss the critical issue of childhood mental health and his legislation, Healthy Minds for a Better Future Act, aimed at supporting the mental well-being of our nation’s children.

This legislation directs resources focused on middle school students, in particular, as we are seeing these issues affect children at a younger and younger age. The roundtable brought together parents, students, teachers, and school administrators to engage in an open dialogue and share their insights, concerns, and recommendations.

“As a father, I know that nothing matters more to a parent than the health and well-being of their child. That’s why I introduced the Healthy Minds for a Better Future Act,” Kean said. “This community roundtable provided a valuable platform to hear directly from those most affected by these issues to push this legislation to help parents, teachers, and school administrators connect mental health resources with children who may need it.”

“The Branchburg School District shares deep concerns regarding the alarming mental health crisis statistics, specifically among adolescents in the United States,” said Branchburg School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Chase. “As a result, we have made it a paramount objective to prioritize the mental health and overall well-being of our students. We find encouragement in Congressman Kean’s bill, which aims to support school districts in their endeavors to tackle mental health challenges.”

“It is so important for staff, parents, the community, students, and elected officials to work together to address mental health in our schools,” said Jessica Skowyra, a Branchburg Middle School Parent. “It’s more than passing tests these days. This roundtable and bill are a good start, and much more needs to be done in this area.”