Wednesday, May 8, 2024
5/8/2024
HWRSD-AWARE will serve the communities of Hampden and Wilbraham Massachusetts, and the 3338 students of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District. HWRSD is comprised of seven schools, PreK through grade twelve. Of the 15% of students who receive special educational services, more than 50% include a social, emotional or behavioral component in their Individualized Educational Plans. The goal of HWRSD-AWARE is to increase community-wide capacity to recognize mental health needs of all school age youth, but there is a particular concern for middle and high school students who, according to longitudinal Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, experience emotional struggles that are manifested in significant and increasing indicators of depression, suicidal ideation, and persistent high-risk behaviors such as alcohol and other substance abuse. Through the implementation of HWRSD-AWARE, Hampden-Wilbraham will increase the mental health literacy of adults who interact with school-aged youth across the wide variety of settings and situations in schools and in the wider community. In the two year implementation plan, the district will work with community mental health and law enforcement partners, parents, teachers and youth-serving agencies to establish and train a cadre of eight certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructors, who will in turn train over 250 members in the community to become Youth Mental Health First Aiders. We will incorporate the program within a behavioral health framework that is sustainable beyond the funding cycle. The specific intent is to ensure that adults who interface with youth across all settings and situations will become more capable and confident in their abilities to recognize signs of emotional distress and better equipped to take action that will result in the delivery of appropriate supports.
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).
