This program will implement the trauma-informed helpme APP, a mobile phone-based APP to enable students, teachers, parents, and community members to share needs and concerns with local school…

This $821,633 Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the STOP School Violence Program (CFDA 16.839) will enable the Southwest Arkansas Educational Coop to implement the "HelpMe" mobile app. The HelpMe app will provide students, staff, and families with 24/7 emergency monitoring, crisis response, and access to e-therapy services to address mental health needs. Key components include an anonymous reporting system for safety concerns, integration with a comprehensive safety platform, and specialized services for rural communities where access to mental health professionals is limited. The grant will also fund the delivery of trauma-informed interventions, behavioral threat assessment training, and other evidence-based school safety initiatives over the 3-year project period from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026.

This program will implement the trauma-informed helpme APP, a mobile phone-based APP to enable students, teachers, parents, and community members to share needs and concerns with local school personnel anonymously. Helpme will provide students, staff, and families with immediate access to life-saving services directly from the home screen through CTL. CTL integration creates a comprehensive safety solution for individuals to help themselves or others 24/7/365. Helpme will also come with 24/7 emergency monitoring and management, which includes a complete response to help requests and emergency management of safety incidents by trained crisis responders during evenings, weekends, and all breaks, including the summer. Participating districts can select the level of monitoring and coverage they need from out-of-school hours only with referrals to district personnel to complete 24/7/365 incident response and management by the helpme team. Arkansas help will provide schools with access to e-therapy services to address requests for mental health support. District counseling and therapy resources are nonexistent, but e-therapy providers can fill this GAP and provide services to districts with limited youth mental health solutions. This service benefits rural communities where travel distance to professional help is a significant barrier. Once mental health concerns are assessed, district personnel can connect students and families in need with locally available services and/or continued e-therapy treatment, creating a smoother and more responsive process for students in crisis.