Improving student wellness by expanding mental health literacy and capacity of CIS school-based staff through professional development initiatives

The Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded $925,000 to Communities In Schools of Washington State on June 1, 2026, under the Innovative Approaches to Literacy; Promise Neighborhoods; Full-Service Community Schools; and Congressionally Directed Spending for Elementary and Secondary Education Community Projects program (CFDA 84.215).

The recipient will expand mental health literacy and capacity among school-based staff through professional development initiatives designed to improve student wellness. Work is performed in Auburn, Washington. The project runs through June 1, 2029 and is classified as a Project Grant, a multiple-year award subject to continuation based on substantial progress, timely reporting, and appropriation availability.

Communities In Schools of Washington State is a nonprofit focused on dropout prevention and student support. The organization partners with schools, communities, and families to deliver services including mentoring, tutoring, afterschool programming, and attendance monitoring to students at risk of school failure.