The jones prep academy integrated continuum of care - the jones prep academy will establish a regional school-based behavioral health and trauma recovery center to expand access to evidence-based,…

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Springdale Public School District No. 50 $970,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to establish a regional school-based behavioral health and trauma recovery center in northwest Arkansas.

Springdale Public Schools will lead the project through the Jones Prep Academy in collaboration with the 15-member Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative to expand access to evidence-based, trauma-informed mental health services for children and youth ages 5–17. Over the four-year performance period through September 29, 2030, the center will provide direct intensive behavioral health services to 396 unduplicated children and youth (70 in year 1, 90 in year 2, 110 in year 3, and 126 in year 4), with priority given to students experiencing serious emotional disturbance, depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, suicidal ideation or behavior, self-harm, and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Additional students, families, educators, and school personnel across the service area encompassing more than 50,000 PreK–12 students will benefit from prevention activities, professional development, consultation, and system-wide behavioral health supports. The project integrates education, behavioral health, family engagement, and community partnerships to improve behavioral health outcomes, strengthen school climate, reduce barriers to care, and build sustainable regional capacity. Work is performed in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The jones prep academy integrated continuum of care - the jones prep academy will establish a regional school-based behavioral health and trauma recovery center to expand access to evidence-based, trauma-informed mental health services for children and youth across northwest arkansas. Through an integrated continuum of care that combines education, behavioral health, family engagement, and community partnerships, the project will improve behavioral health outcomes, strengthen school climate, reduce barriers to care, and build sustainable regional capacity to serve children with complex behavioral health needs. The project will create a replicable model that strengthens school-based behavioral health infrastructure and advances samhsa's strategic priorities of prevention, treatment, recovery, and workforce development. The project will be led by springdale public schools (SPS) and implemented through the jones prep academy in collaboration with the 15-member northwest arkansas education service cooperative (nwaesc). The service area encompasses more than 50,000 prek-12 students, with direct intensive behavioral health services provided to 396 unduplicated children and youth over the four-year project period (70 in year 1, 90 in year 2, 110 in year 3, and 126 in year 4). Additional students, families, educators, and school personnel will benefit from prevention activities, professional development, consultation, and system-wide behavioral health supports. The target population includes children and adolescents ages 5-17, with an anticipated distribution of approximately 50% male and 50% female. Priority will be given to students experiencing serious emotional disturbance (SED), depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, suicidal ideation or behavior, self-harm, and CO-occurring behavioral health conditions. The project will also prioritize students with disabilities requiring intensive multidisciplinary supports, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, developmental delay, and idea-identified emotional disturbance. Many participating youth experience poverty, adverse childhood experiences (aces), school disciplinary actions, chronic absenteeism, family instability, or involvement with child welfare, juvenile justice, or other community service systems. Project strategies include implementation of a comprehensive multi-tiered system of supports (mtss); universal behavioral health screening and referral; school-based mental health (sbmh) services; trauma-informed care; therapeutic learning communities; positive behavioral interventions and supports (pbis); youth mental health first aid; arkansas aware professional development; professional crisis management; ukeru trauma-informed crisis prevention; coordinated suicide prevention and 988 protocols; family engagement; case management; community behavioral health partnerships; and ongoing technical assistance for participating school districts. The jones prep academy will also serve as a regional demonstration, training, and technical assistance center to strengthen the behavioral health workforce throughout northwest arkansas. Project goals are to (1) build a sustainable regional behavioral health infrastructure; (2) implement an integrated continuum of trauma-informed behavioral health services; (3) empower families as active members of the behavioral health team; (4) strengthen regional workforce capacity through professional learning; and (5) improve outcomes through continuous quality improvement and sustainability planning. Identified project objectives directly support samhsa's strategic priorities by expanding equitable access to behavioral healthcare, strengthening the behavioral health workforce, promoting early intervention and suicide prevention, improving family engagement, and advancing recovery-oriented, trauma-informed systems of care.