Project AWARE Grant Awarded to WVDE Truancy Diversion Webinar April 12, 2016

Project AWARE A $9.7 million dollar Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) grant will focus on mental health needs of children, families and communities through the public school system over the next 5 years.

The grant’s goals are twofold:   Address the mental health needs of children, youth, families and caregivers and Assist communities with the implementation of Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid programs.

What Does This Mean to Schools?

Project AWARE This grant project will focus on students in PreK through grade 12, ages 3 to 21 years, in West Virginia schools. Three counties will serve as the demonstration sites to guide the development of a statewide sustainable systems’ approach to improve mental health services. The three county school systems are in Berkeley, McDowell and Wood.

Project AWARE’s purpose: Build and expand the capacity of schools to increase awareness of the mental health issues of school-aged youth, Provide training for school personnel and other adults who interact with school-aged youth to detect and respond to mental health issues, Connect children, youth and families who may have behavioral health issues with appropriate services Promotes school-community partnerships to connect families to mental health services and Provide evidence-based programs supporting safe and supportive school and community environments using the Community Schools’ framework.

Community Schools recognize that school and community partnerships are essential to student success Students are actively involved in learning and their community Families are involved with their children’s education Students are healthy – physically, socially and emotionally Students live and learn in a safe, supportive, and positive environment Schools are engaged with families AND communities Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone-all day, every day, evenings and weekends

Interconnected Systems Framework This work will begin the process of developing an interconnected systems framework in order to leverage individual program strengths linking: School climate policy, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, Student Advisory Programs, Mental Health First Aid and Mental health services. Using the Community Schools Approach

Project AWARE Management Framework

Contact Information Jackie Payne, MU - Project AWARE Coordinator payne225@marshall.edu Dianna Bailey-Miller, MU – MHFA Coordinator baileymiller@marshall.edu Paula Fields, WVDE - Community Schools Coordinator prfields@k12.wv.us