LANGSTON, Okla. — Langston University, Oklahoma’s only historically Black college or university (HBCU), has been awarded a $1.25 million grant. The grant from the US Department of Education’s OSERS will help prepare to serve children with mental disabilities, according to a release.

Additionally, the five-year grant to LU will fund the creation of “School-to-Work: Preparing Personnel to Serve School-Age Children with Mental Disabilities (STW-SACMD).” The course will be under the university’s existing CACREP-accredited Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Program.

The release said the funded program is in response to identified needs related to personnel development issues. It addresses the demands and improvement of services and results for children with mental disabilities. Moreover, the program particularly focuses on children from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, including those who are multilingual.

Langston University offers quality programs

Corey Moore, professor and founding chair of Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, will be the Project Director for this grant.

“This initiative is important to the field of disability and employment as it affords our program the opportunity to train and prepare our students for rehabilitation positions that serve school-age children with mental disabilities from minority backgrounds to achieve a smoother transition from the secondary grade school system to the world of work,” Moore said.

The grant project also aims to assist student development through LU’s partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, Tulsa Public Schools, and other local education agencies.

Ruth Ray Jackson, President of Langston University, said the significant investment will support LU’s priorities “of offering quality academic programs, engaging in purposeful partnerships, and ensuring access to education for all.”

Lastly, President Jackson said, “I am immensely proud of the continued success of Dr. Moore and scholars within Langston University’s Department of Rehabilitation and Disability Studies.” She continued, “This $1.25 million grant from the US Department of Education is further evidence of the impact of their work in preparing our students for success and addressing needs across underserved communities.”