April 15, 2026 – Today, Senator Nick Miller (D–Lehigh/Northampton) announced over $1 million in grants to keep students safe by investing in mental health, violence prevention, and support systems, for students in Lehigh and Northampton County through Pennsylvania’s School Safety and Security Grant Program.
Last year, Senator Nick Miller was appointed to the School Safety and Security Committee of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), underscoring his commitment to public safety and the well-being of Pennsylvania’s students, educators, and residents. The 2025-2026 budget invests $62,150,000 in PCCD’s VIP line item and $100,000,000 for School Safety and Mental Health Grants.
“These investments are about taking a proactive approach to safety. By strengthening early intervention and prevention, we’re keeping students safe and building stronger communities across the Lehigh Valley,” said Senator Miller. “As we head into summer, these resources are critical to keeping students safe and supported. I’ll continue advocating to ensure they have the support they need to succeed.”
A total of $1,531,895 in grants was approved for initiatives in Senator Miller’s district.
VIP:
- $500,000 to Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania (CISEPA)for its Integrated Student Supports (ISS) model across five schools in Lehigh, Northampton, and Berks Counties. The project continues existing school-based prevention services. The overall purpose of the project is to reduce early warning indicators before they escalate into more serious safety concerns. CISEPA expects to serve approximately 5800 individuals during each year of the project.
- $499,909 to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to sustain and deepen a multi-partner, school-based violence-prevention and trauma-informed initiative at Francis D. Raub Middle School in Allentown serving up to 1,350 students.
- $489,200 to KidsPeace to expand and integrate school-based mental health and violence-intervention services in the Allentown School District by combining its outpatient Violence Intervention Program with its in-school therapy model, allowing clinicians to deliver trauma-informed care, safety planning, and coping skills support directly in K–12 schools.
- $412,986 to Valley Youth House Committee Inc to expand its school-based violence-prevention and mental health services into the Easton Area and Bethlehem Area School Districts, serving approximately 700 students annually across four secondary schools.
- $119,000 to Fine Feather Foundation to expand its Excelsior Program into Sheridan and Washington Elementary Schools, providing a safe, trauma-informed afterschool and summer environment for at-risk youth in Allentown’s 18102 community
For more information about the School Safety and Security Committee and its initiatives, visit the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency website at www.pccd.pa.gov.
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