Project AWARE: Advancing Wellness & Resiliency in Education

The Manchester School District was Awarded $7.6 Million in Funding through September 2028 from the US Department of Health & Human Services through an intentional application and implementation plan to address student mental health, school safety, and disparities in behavioral health for school aged youth and families. Planning began in 2019 with a pilot school and initial blueprint work, well-positioning the District to receive 1 out of 23 national awards. The purpose of the funding is to continue to build the infrastructure and systems for MTSS-B implementation across the District.

MTSS-B LINKS

The goal of Project AWARE is to promote the healthy social and emotional development of school-aged youth and prevent youth violence in school settings. Project AWARE aims to reduce stigma around behavioral health challenges for students in our school district and encourages them (and their families) to connect to behavioral health services. To improve connection to supports, Project AWARE's focus is to build infrastructure through implementation of a three-tiered public health model (MTSS-B), with clear referral pathways in place to refer students for support - in or outside of - the school setting.

Behavioral health equity and access is a focus of Project AWARE and is promoted through the MTSS-B framework in addition to monitoring public health data in our community. Behavioral health equity and access means using data to identify outcomes that are different for some populations of people compared to others. Using data, we work toward improving systems and implementing practices that reduce barriers to access for students and improve outcomes for those experiencing behavioral health disparities.

Read more about Project AWARE from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

MSD logo

The Manchester School District is committed to establish and implement evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention training and policies in compliance with the:

Project AWARE Data

data

The Manchester School District will implement evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention training and report on the following:

  • The # of trainings conducted, including the # of student trainings conducted and the training delivery method

  • The # of students trained - disaggregated by age and grade level

  • The # of help-seeking reports by students

Other Project AWARE Data That Will Be Collected & Reported

Infrastructure & Capacity Building

  • The number of individuals who receive training in prevention or mental health promotion

  • The number of individuals trained with positive changes in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about mental health and trauma

  • The number of new policies / policy changes that support the MTSS-B framework

School-Community Behavioral Health Collaboration

  • The number of community providers that entered into formal agreements to improve mental health related practices and activities consistent with the goals of the grant

Connecting School Aged Youth to Services & Supports

  • The number of school aged youth referred to brief or intensive behavioral health services and supports

  • The number of school aged youth connected to brief or intensive behavioral health services and supports after referral

Measuring Student Outcomes

Databases and systems are in development to evaluate the outcomes from implementing MTSS-B. Expected outcomes over the next 5 years include:

  • Reduced office discipline referral rates

  • Reduced suspensions

  • Reduced incidents regarding school safety

  • Reduced student concern over school safety

  • Increased % of students seeking behavioral health support when needed

  • Increased attendance rates

  • Increased academic achievement

  • Improved school climate for staff

  • Improved school climate for families

District, State, and additional Federal funding streams will be leveraged to continue to build capacity and sustainability for MTSS-B implementation.

email

Questions? Comments? Input?

Contact the Office of Behavioral Health & Safe Schools

schampey@mansd.org