Sunday, April 27, 2025
4/27/2025
MSCS Project AWARE - see abstract - Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) joins with its partners (the TN Department of Education, the TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the SMART Center at the University of Memphis, and the Center for Youth Advocacy & Well-Being at the University of Tennessee) as Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ Project AWARE to expand access to school-based mental health services for some of the nation’s most disadvantaged schools in one of the nation’s cities with the highest childhood risk. By building on the existing MSCS implementation of Tennessee’s multi-tiered system of behavioral supports (RTI2-B), and addressing gaps in service and need for sustainability activities, MSCS’s Project AWARE will implement strategies and interventions that bring awareness to mental health through student, parent, and staff trainings, a developed and implemented suicide training policy, and community activities. The proposed project will serve MSCS’s population of 104,983 students comprised of 70.5% African American, 18.5% Hispanic/Latino, 6.0% white, 2.3% multiracial, 1.0% Asian, and 1.3% other. The six goals and associated measurable objectives to guide activities are as follows: (G1) Increase mental health awareness to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking for mental health among school-aged youth. (1.1) # of students demonstrating knowledge of mental wellness self-care increases by 5% yearly. (1.2) # of students receiving suicide prevention & intervention training doubles in Year 1 and thereafter increases by 5% yearly. (1.3) Student-initiated usage of ReSET Rooms increases by 5% yearly. (1.4) Student-or family-initiated usage of Family Wellness Centers increases by 5% each year. (1.5) High school YRBS respondents report 5% decreases in risk behaviors tied to mental health awareness campaigns in administrations of the YRBS in 2023 and 2025. (G2) Increase the mental health literacy of individuals who interact with school-aged youth to understand and detect the signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use/misuse, and co-occurring disorders. (2.1) At least 10 Tier 1 trainings are offered yearly, with # of trainees increasing by 5% yearly. (2.2) School staff self-describe as more confident (on pre-and post-surveys) in their ability to identify risk factors for mental health, substance use/misuse, and co-occurring issues in students. (2.3) Staff-initiated usage of ReSET Rooms increases by 5% yearly. (G3) Promote and foster resilience building and mental health well-being for all school-aged youth. (3.1) % of students participating in resiliency building and mental well-being programs through the SEL curriculum is 75% or higher yearly. (3.2) Students’ positive responses on school climate instruments related to Tier 1 interactions increase by 5% yearly. (G4) Connect school-age youth to trained, mental health literate staff and professionals guided by Tennessee’s RTI2-B three-tiered behavioral model. (4.1) Teachers’ positive responses on school climate instruments related to school-level interventions increase by 5% yearly. (4.2) At least 15 Tier 2 trainings are offered yearly, with # of trainees increasing by 5% yearly. (4.3) Tier 3 student compliance with requirements increases by 5% yearly. (4.4) Exclusionary suspensions, as a % of all suspensions, decreases by 5% yearly. (G5) Enhance collaborative partnerships to include expanded Tier 2 targeted services and Tier 3 intensive services among school-age youth. (5.1) # of students receiving external post-referral care increases by 5% yearly. (5.2) Advisory Board partners with at least two external referral providers yearly. (G6) Develop infrastructure to sustain and expand culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate, and trauma-informed school and community-based mental health services. (6.1) A sustainability plan for successful Project AWARE components is in place by project end. (6.2) Policy on student suicide prevention/intervention training is adopted by project end.
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).