Project Grant H79FG000833

INCREASING ACCESS TO SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CSSW - CHILDREN'S IS REQUESTING FUNDING TO EXPAND OUR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES (MBH) OFFERED IN MIDDLETON-CROSS PLAINS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (MCPASD), LOCATED IN DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, AND THE DC EVEREST AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (DC EVEREST), LOCATED IN MARATHON COUNTY, WISCONSIN. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, INCREASING ACCESS TO SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, WE INTEND TO BETTER SUPPORT STUDENTS TO ENSURE THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY, PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF AND PROVIDE PARENT ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. MBH SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANY CHILD OR ADOLESCENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE STATUS AND/ OR ABILITY TO PAY, AND ADULT CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF FAMILY THERAPY AND SUPPORTING THE CHILD'S RECOVERY. THE FAMILIES SERVED AT THE SCHOOLS ARE OFTEN UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED AND/ OR LACK THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO AFFORD AND/ OR ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-RESOURCED OFTEN FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ACCESSING OUTPATIENT THERAPY SERVICES. ALTHOUGH WE WORK WITH ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO SEEK MBH CARE, CHILDREN'S SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH MULTIPLE STRESSORS, CHALLENGING SOCIOECONOMIC SITUATIONS AND COMPLEX TRAUMA. MANY OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE HAVE EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE AND/ OR HAVE WITNESSED FAMILY AND/ OR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. THEY SUFFER FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION AND OFTEN HAVE DIFFICULTY SELFREGULATING AND FUNCTIONING IN SCHOOL. THE PROJECT GOAL IS TO HELP IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONING OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT SCHOOL, AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY BY INCREASING ACCESS TO CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY RESPONSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF AND PARENTS/ CAREGIVERS. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, WE INTEND TO RECRUIT AND ONBOARD THREE FULL-TIME MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS. ONE THERAPIST WILL BE PLACED IN THE DC EVEREST SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND TWO THERAPISTS WILL BE PLACED IN THE MCPASD. DURING THE PROJECT, THE THERAPISTS WILL ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING: ASSESS, DIAGNOSE AND TREAT A MINIMUM OF 90 STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES. PROVIDE GROUP PSYCHOEDUCATION TO A MINIMUM OF 42 STUDENTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES SUCH AS ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, TRAUMA, STRESS AND MORE, AND HELP STUDENTS MANAGE EMOTIONS AND IMPROVE COPING STRATEGIES. PROVIDE 20 TEACHERS WITH 1:1 STUDENT-SPECIFIC CONSULTATION TO HELP THEM BETTER SUPPORT KIDS EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING BEHAVIOR, PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING. PROVIDE 80 PARENTS WITH CONSULTATION AND/ OR FAMILY THERAPY TO HELP THEM BETTER SUPPORT THEIR CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING BEHAVIOR, PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING. DELIVER TWELVE EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS FOR TEACHERS/ STAFF AND PARENTS/ CAREGIVERS. ANTICIPATED TRAINING TOPICS INCLUDE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, THE IMPACT OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, TRAUMAINFORMED SCHOOL SUPPORTS, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH 101, RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF SUICIDE, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUPPORT GROUPS AND EDUCATION SESSIONS TO HELP PARENTS BETTER SUPPORT THEIR CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND IMPROVE FAMILY FUNCTIONING. PROVIDING SCHOOL-BASED THERAPIES DIRECTLY IMPROVES ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY MAKING THEM MORE CONVENIENT, ELIMINATING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDING MORE COLLABORATIVE CARE AND TREATMENT WHEN PARTNERING WITH PARENTS/ CAREGIVERS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND STAFF. SCHOOL STAFF WILL HAVE IN-PERSON, ALMOST IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER FOR COLLABORATION, COORDINATION OF CARE, INFORMAL AND FORMAL CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH THAT SUPPORTS POSITIVE CLASSROOM INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCE