Northern kentucky institute for trauma informed schools - the population of focus of the northern kentucky institute for trauma-informed schools (institute) will be the 44,447 children and youth…

Northern kentucky institute for trauma informed schools - the population of focus of the northern kentucky institute for trauma-informed schools (institute) will be the 44,447 children and youth ages 3-18 who attend grades preschool through 12 in ten school districts. The primary goal is to increase student access to evidence-based and culturally relevant trauma support services and mental health care in schools of northern kentucky cooperative for educational services, with sub-goals to enhance and improve trauma-informed support and mental health services for northern kentucky's children and youth; to link participating northern kentucky school systems with local trauma-informed support and mental health systems; and to create and improve identification, referral, early intervention, treatment, and support services for northern kentucky students that need specialized support. Objectives include: to increase the number of individuals screened for mental health or related interventions; increase the number of individuals referred to mental health or related services; increase the number of individuals who receive training related to mental health, trauma informed care, or related services; implement adaptations of evidence-based practices to incorporate the special needs of unique populations or settings; create formal written inter-/intra-organizational agreements with community agencies to improve mental health-related practices/activities for trauma informed services in northern kentucky schools; to engage community organizations to collaborate, coordinate, or share resources with other organizations; 100% of participating districts will meet 80% of the goals of their trauma informed care plans; and school staff training participants will have demonstrated improvement in knowledge, attitudes, or beliefs related to prevention and/or mental health promotion. The institute will serve all students through universal supports and evidence-based programs and strategies in collaboration with schools' multi-tiered systems of support; IT will serve students with higher need through school-based counseling provided by professional school counselors; for students with further needs, the project will build and strengthen relationships and systems of support with community agency providers of mental health services who will work with youth and families in the schools, in the community, or in the home as appropriate. The project will encourage and support 65 participating schools as they adopt evidence-based trauma-informed practices that are culturally relevant for their populations by building on schools' and districts' trauma informed plans, providing training, materials, and resources specific to each school's and district's needs. The project will also provide support for children and youth who otherwise might not be able to access mental health supports due to lack of transportation or insurance, and IT will support school staff wellness through training and tailored services through the trauma informed plan. Targets are to serve 40,000 people the first year and throughout the project and to add 3,000 new students entering schools each year, for a total of 49,000 served through the life of the project.