Project Grant H79FG000789

STUDENT RESILIENCY CENTER PROJECT - STARR COMMONWEALTH, FOUNDED IN 1913, PROVIDES COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, SPECIALIZED TREATMENT SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND COACHING TO HEAL TRAUMA AND BUILD RESILIENCE IN ALL CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND THE PROFESSIONAL THAT SERVE THEM. STARR'S PROGRAMS SERVE YOUTH, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES AT SITES ACROSS MICHIGAN AND BEYOND. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MARSHALL, BATTLE CREEK, LAKEVIEW, AND HARPER CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ALONG WITH THE BATTLE CREEK FAMILY YMCA AND CALHOUN COUNTY'S PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER, SUMMIT POINTE, STARR LAUNCHED THE STUDENT RESILIENCE AND EMPOWERMENT CENTER (THE REC) IN SPRING 2022. THE GOAL OF THE REC IS TO SUPPORT AN ESTIMATED 150 UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS DURING THE YEARLONG PROJECT PERIOD, AND TO SUSTAIN THESE SERVICES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES. THIS IMMERSIVE PROGRAM INTEGRATES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE INTO THE SCHOOL DAY, WITH SERVICES DELIVERED BY STARR AT THE YMCA. THE REC WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO GROWING LOCAL DEMAND TO MEET THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN (GRADES 6-8) MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. THIS IMMERSIVE PROGRAM DELIVERS SPECIALIZED SERVICES THROUGH STARR AT THE YMCA USING A SCHOOL-BASED REFERRAL AND CASE REVIEW PROCESS. THE REC WILL HAVE BOTH AM AND PM SESSIONS FOR UP TO 30 STUDENTS ENROLLED PER SESSION (60 STUDENTS PER DAY, 4-5 SESSIONS PER YEAR). THESE SERVICES WILL BE MEASURED AND OBJECTIVELY REPORTED THROUGH PRE- AND POST-ASSESSMENT OF A RANGE OF SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES. THE RESULTS CAN BE REPLICATED BY OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR HIGH NEED POPULATIONS. STARR COMMONWEALTH IS HEADQUARTERED IN ALBION, MICHIGAN AND HAS CAMPUSES IN BATTLE CREEK, KALAMAZOO, HARPER WOODS, AND AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF MICHIGAN IN DETROIT. OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, STARR COMMONWEALTH HAS ALSO BUILT A SPECTRUM OF TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS AND DIRECT (OUTPATIENT) BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, SCHOOL SYSTEMS, HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, AND COMMUNITIES. DURING THE FIRST YEAR START-UP PERIOD FOR THE REC, STARR AND ITS PROJECT TEAM WILL UTILIZE GRANT RESOURCES TO SERVE IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE AT THE REC BY PROVIDING PROJECT PLANNING OVERSIGHT, PROGRAM EVALUATION, TRAINING AND EMBEDDED SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF, ALONG WITH CLINICAL OVERSIGHT AND THE STAFFING OF CLINICIANS, RESILIENCE COACHES, EDUCATION SPECIALISTS/TEACHERS, AND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. STARR WILL ALSO PROVIDE ITS OWN RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO HELP MARKET AND COMMUNICATE THIS PROGRAM AND THE STUDENT RESILIENCE AND EMPOWERMENT CENTER.