AWARE 3 Project Abstract
Kentucky youth are impacted by the current behavioral health crisis and existing school-based behavioral health supports are unable to meet current needs. Students from marginalized groups are experiencing mental health challenges at greater rates. KY AWARE 3 will work to create a public health model for the successful implementation and sustainability of a three-tiered comprehensive school behavioral health system, that is supported by collaboration between schools, districts, and community behavioral health providers, to provide a continuum of supports and resources from prevention and promotion through intensive intervention.
The purpose of the KY AWARE 3 is to develop a comprehensive school behavioral health system that supports Tier 1 (universal) and Tier 2 (targeted) of a three-tiered public health model. The project will strengthen or expand Tier 1 and Tier 2 services to decrease the need for Tier 3 (individual) interventions, which will positively impact the behavioral health needs of students. KYAWARE 3 will also address student substance use in relation to youth mental health, the needs of youth who identify with the LGBTQI+ community (as related to suicide prevention), bullying, youth suicide prevention, and overall school staff wellbeing.
The goals of the project will be as follows:
Goal 1: Develop a comprehensive, three-tiered, school behavioral health system through a collaborative interagency infrastructure that involves LEAs (Local Education Agencies), CMHCs (Community Mental Health Centers) and other youth serving agencies (YSA) to address student behavioral health needs.
Goal 2: Enhance the implementation of a three-tiered behavioral health intervention model of universal prevention and promotion, secondary prevention and brief supports, and treatment interventions, in each of the LEAs, that includes developmentally and linguistically appropriate, trauma-informed, inclusive, restorative, and evidenced based practices.
Goal 3: Promote prevention and promotion services for youth substance use, bullying, and suicide prevention, and increase the number of students engaged in behavioral health interventions in all tiers of support in the LEAs.
Goal 4: Sustain the engagement of key stakeholders to implement and maintain behavioral health interventions in the LEAs, through the development of both school and district teams, that promote and support interagency collaboration, youth and family engagement, and continuous improvement