Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Tuesday that schools have received a written guidebook connecting them to community mental health services from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The state also received a recent $9 million, five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The grant will pay for pilot programs in Chadron, Hastings and South Sioux City. Schools in those cities will look for proactive ways to help students before they need more intensive and costly care. The guidebook is also designed to connect students and their families to resources early.