Sunday, April 28, 2024
4/28/2024
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System (CNMI PSS) Project Trauma Advised Student Advocacy (TASA), like the pillar on which the indigenous Latte Stone homes were built, aims to support and increase student resilience in a region where people have experienced trauma as a result of two recent devastating natural disasters. Typhoon Manghkut and Super Typhoon Yutu, have resulted in displaced families, devastated infrastructure, and psychological distress on youth and adults. To mitigate the impact of disaster-based trauma and crisis, the CNMI Public School System will implement a multi-tiered approach to school-based behavioral health and crisis response. The goals of Project TASA are to improve CNMI PSS staff preparedness to both recognize and respond to trauma and crisis, increase access to school-based and related mental health services and build connectedness among family, schools, and community to address student mental health and well being. To achieve this, Project TASA will (1) increase school-level counselors, teachers, and education leaders level of preparedness through awareness & literacy of trauma-informed systems of care; (2) increase access of school-level counselors, identified teachers, administrators to crisis response training; (3) train school counselors and administrators on Project TASA policies and procedures; (4) identify students for Project TASA tiered interventions by completion of a universal screener; (5) train school counselors to complete evidence-based and developmentally-appropriate training/certification to support coordinated referral processes; (6) access to peer supports, and (7) establish and facilitate a Project TASA advisory board that will drive policy proposal and increase key partners’ awareness of mental health concerns & resources. Project TASA will support the 10,002 students in all 20 CNMI PSS schools across the three inhabited islands of the CNMI: Saipan, Tinian, and Rota: 35.3% of students identify as Filipino, 23.9% as Chamorro, 12.7% indicate having a multi-ethnic backgrounds, 6.8% Chinese, & 21% account for other ethnic backgrounds. According to internal PSS data an estimated 20% (2,006) students accessed clinical or disciplinary actions in need of intervention. Strategies and interventions include Screening, coordinated referral, crisis response and implementation of direct evidenced school-based services: Trauma-Informed Skills for Educators (TISE)/Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS), Skills For Psychological Recovery (SPR), Healing After Trauma Skills (HATS), Bounce Back, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in the Schools (CBITS), Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET), Peaceful Alternatives to Tough Situations (PATTS), The Fourth R: Healthy Relationship Plus Program, Healthy Relationship Plus Program for LGBT2Q+ youth, & Indigenous Peer Mentoring. The program goals and objectives will guide a data-driven process that will inform decision-making at all levels. Project TASA supports the CNMI PSS’ goal of providing a safe & caring learning environment that supports behavioral health and academic achievement of all students.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
