Bridges to resilience - the goal of project aware: bridges to resilience is to develop a sustainable infrastructure for school mental health that is grounded in jersey city public schools'…

Bridges to resilience - the goal of project aware: bridges to resilience is to develop a sustainable infrastructure for school mental health that is grounded in jersey city public schools' trauma-informed multi-tiered system of support (mtss). Through our goals and objectives, we will deliver trauma-informed, culturally-responsiveness supports and services for all students, with particular attention to the needs of minoritized youth, lgbtq+ youth, and students at risk for suicide. Jersey city public schools (jcps) is a large, urban school district of 39 schools serving 26,782 students (27% black, 38% latinx, 18% asian, 14% white, 3% others; 78% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Our project goals are as follows: 1) to establish partnerships with the sea, smha, and community agencies that will both guide a needs assessment and the development of strategic partnerships to serve our students, 2) develop an implementation plan grounded in mtss that includes culturally competent, linguistically appropriate care, grief, trauma-informed, restorative, evidence-based and evidence-informed practices, 3) establish an advisory board to include key stakeholders to guide out work and improver youth and family serving school-based mental health systems, 4) plan for sustainment of these practices, 5) establish collaborative relationships with families, community groups, family and peer support services, behavioral health providers, and local partners, and 6) provide suicide awareness and prevention training in secondary schools. Key objectives within these goals include: 1) distribution of a refined culturally responsive and equity-focused mtss model for academic support and student mental health, 2) revision of the district code of conduct to include restorative approaches and culturally-responsive, trauma-informed policies and practices, 3) establishment of tier 1 mental health awareness practices targeting youth and families (i.e., SEL, restorative practices, stigma reduction curricula), 4) organizational training for staff wellness, 5) training in crisis response and prevention, 6) training in school safety and threat/violence prevention, and safety and risk assessment, 7) training in mental health awareness and literacy to school staff, administrators, parents, and others, 8) implement a screening and referral program which will be used by all 39 schools by the end of the grant period, 9) implement brief intervention services to promote resilience and wellness and to offer targeted support to students experiencing distress, trauma, or bereavement, or are at-risk for development of mental health and substance use disorders, 9) increased availability of more intensive individual services as needed, 10) provide year community forums, 11) provide trauma informed parenting (tips) workshops to caregivers, 12) train school personnel in all 10 6-12 serving schools in suicide prevention, assessment, and referral methods, and 13) provide students in grades 6-12 with an evidence-based suicide prevention and stigma reduction programs to reduce the risk of self-harm or suicide. The grant funds will serve 25,000 unduplicated students over the course of the grant, and at least 5000 yearly.