Wyoming project strong (school trauma response, outreach, navigation, & growth) - project strong (school trauma response, outreach, navigation, & growth) is a multi-district initiative to strengthen &…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Park County School District #1 $969,999 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to implement Wyoming Project STRONG, a multi-district school-based trauma-informed mental health initiative.

Project STRONG strengthens and expands trauma-informed mental health systems serving approximately 12,300 pre-K–12 students across three Wyoming public school districts. Led by Park County School District #1 in partnership with two additional local education agencies, local community behavioral health providers, and other agency partners, the initiative implements universal behavioral health screening across all participating schools with the goal of screening at least 75% of enrolled students annually. The project establishes a coordinated framework integrating universal screening, Tier 1 and Tier 2 intervention systems, expanded school-based behavioral health partnerships, and data-driven continuous improvement efforts. Work includes expanding access to evidence-based Tier 2 supports for students with emerging social, emotional, behavioral, or trauma-related concerns and increasing referrals and successful linkage to behavioral health services by at least 30% over the four-year grant period. In Wyoming's frontier and rural communities, schools serve as the primary point of identification and referral for student mental health concerns due to provider shortages, transportation barriers, and limited access to child and adolescent behavioral health services.

Performance occurs in Powell, Wyoming. The period of performance runs through September 29, 2030.

Wyoming project strong (school trauma response, outreach, navigation, & growth) - project strong (school trauma response, outreach, navigation, & growth) is a multi-district initiative to strengthen & expand trauma-informed mental health systems for approximately 12,300 prek-12 students across three wyoming public school districts. Led by park county school district #1 in partnership with two wyoming local education agencies (LEAS), local community behavioral health providers, & other agency partners, project strong will build upon existing school mental health infrastructure to increase student access to evidence-based prevention, early intervention, referral, & treatment services. The project will establish a coordinated framework that integrates universal behavioral health screening, robust tier 1 & 2 intervention systems, expanded school-based behavioral health partnerships, & data-driven continuous improvement efforts to improve student well-being & support positive school climates. In wyoming's frontier & rural communities, schools frequently serve as the primary point of identification & referral for student mental health concerns.due to provider shortages, transportation barriers, & limited access to child & adolescent behavioral health services. While participating LEAS have made substantial progress in implementing mtss-SEB and developing tier 3 referral pathways, gaps remain in universal early identification systems, tier 2 capacity, & access to school-linked mental health treatment services. Project strong will address these gaps by implementing universal mental health screening in all participating schools, with the goal of screening at least 75% of enrolled students annually, expanding access to evidence-based tier 2 supports for students demonstrating emerging social, emotional, behavioral, or trauma-related concerns, & increasing referrals & successful linkage to behavioral health services by at least 30% over the four-year grant period. Through strengthened community partnerships & expanded school-based service delivery models, the project will reduce barriers to care & promote equitable access to services regardless of geographic location. Key goals and activities of project strong include: goal 1 is to establish a comprehensive system for early identification of student behavioral health needs through universal screening, coordinated referral processes, & integrated data systems. Goal 2 is to strengthen tier 2 mtss-SEB supports by implementing evidence-based interventions & targeted services that address emerging behavioral health concerns before they require intensive treatment. Goal 3 is to expand access to trauma-informed mental health services through enhanced school-community behavioral health partnerships, coordinated care pathways, & improved crisis response systems, including alignment with local crisis services & 988 resources. Goal 4 is to build sustainable district & community infrastructures through professional development, family engagement, interagency collaboration, & continuous evaluation to ensure long-term implementation of effective school mental health practices. An independent external evaluator will oversee performance measurement, data quality, and outcomes evaluation, using findings to drive continuous quality improvement, inform sustainability planning, & disseminate best practices across participating districts & communities. Through this coordinated systems approach, project strong will create a sustainable framework that improves access to trauma-informed mental health services, strengthens school-based supports, & promotes resilience, wellness, & academic success for wyoming students & families.