Laconia Wellness and Mental Health Partnership - Abstract Summary: The Laconia Wellness and Mental Health Partnership is a comprehensive, multi-tiered strategy developed by the Laconia School District to improve mental health and well-being for its students and staff, with a focus on supporting all demographic subgroups, including race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The project will span five years and involve partnerships with various stakeholders, including state and local organizations, community mental health centers, and school personnel. The main goals of the project include enhancing collaborative partnerships, increasing mental health awareness and knowledge, increasing workforce capacity, developing MTSS-B infrastructure, and supporting Tier 1-3 implementation to promote a positive school climate, school safety, and access to mental health services. To accomplish these goals, the project will implement a series of milestones and activities across various timelines. An Advisory Board will be established to support improvements in school-based mental health systems. A needs assessment of risk and protective factors and current prevalence and incidence data will be conducted, disaggregated by demographic subgroups. Partnerships with community-based organizations and Wellness Fairs will be held to ensure access to culturally competent services and increase mental health awareness. Mental health training and awareness programs will be implemented for staff, students, and families, including Teen Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Trauma-Informed Skills for Educators (TISE), and LGBTQI+ student support through Sexual and Gender Alliance (SAGA) groups. The project will also aim to increase district workforce capacity by hiring licensed mental health clinicians, MTSS-B coaches, restorative justice coaches, and student outreach coordinators. Each school will develop MTSS-B tiered teams to identify students in need of mental health services and supports, streamline referrals, and ensure appropriate service matching within the MTSS-B framework. A district-wide social-emotional curriculum will be implemented, promoting positive school climate, resilience building, and social-emotional competencies. Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions will be developed and implemented to provide targeted support for students with more significant needs, including facilitated referral pathways to school- and community-based mental health and substance misuse services. To support staff wellness, partnerships with local health and wellness organizations will be developed, providing health, fitness, and mindfulness classes for district staff. Workshops for educators will be offered to assist in self-regulation and overall stress reduction. Restorative Practices, Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Institute verbal de-escalation training, and ALICE strategies will be provided for staff and students to promote a safe and supportive environment. Throughout the five-year project, the Laconia Wellness and Mental Health Partnership aims to serve approximately 1,860 students annually with a total of 2,140 unduplicated individuals, fostering a positive and supportive environment for the well-being and mental health of students and staff across all demographic subgroups.
