The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), in partnership with Bradley Hospital and Family Service of RI proposes to increase student access to evidence-based and culturally responsive and sustaining trauma support services and mental health care by developing innovative statewide initiatives to raise awareness among school personnel and the broader school community on the prevalence and effects of trauma on youth mental health and school performance particularly in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. RIDE, in collaboration with key partners, will provide more intensive support to 5 Local Education Agencies (LEA’s) to strengthen schools’ capacity to provide culturally relevant evidenced-based trauma support services and mental health care using a Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. LEAs will be selected based on need and readiness to change.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on RI’s youth is unprecedented. During the 2021-2022 school year, amid the pandemic, the number of emergency responses to youth experiencing serious mental health problems increased. Impressions of serious mental health concerns included anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, mania, emotional state issues, suicide or homicidal actions or ideations and others (RIDOH, 2022). Further, school level data from SurveyWorks underscore RI's need for statewide efforts to help schools cultivate safe and secure school climates that are culturally responsive and grounded in principles of trauma-informed care so all youth can feel comfortable and supported reaching out to adults for help.
The following goals will guide the work.
1. Build capacity of the SEA and partners to support increase student access to evidence-based and culturally responsive and sustaining trauma support services and mental health care by developing innovative initiatives, activities, and programs to link local school systems with local trauma-informed support and mental health systems.
2. Build LEA capacity to develop and operationalize a school-based trauma informed support and mental health services implementation plan.
3. Build LEA capacity to support and provide trauma informed, culturally responsive mental health care through professional development and training of all school-based staff.
4. Increase capacity at the LEAs to connect families, schools, and communities to increase engagement and involvement in planning and implementing to increase awareness of the impact of trauma on children and youth.
5. Foster partnerships at the state level among State Department partners with a role in behavioral health for children and youth.
RIDE expects over 42,000 RI school age children will benefit from this effort over the course of the Co-Operative Agreement. Culturally competent and trauma-informed considerations will be interwoven into all aspects of the evaluation and serve as the foundation for monitoring progress, measuring outcomes, and sharing findings that are timely, relevant, and of use to stakeholders.