Comprehensive School-based Mental Health Supports and Services

Comprehensive school-based mental health addresses the social and personal development of school-age children including wellness/resiliency, mental health, substance abuse, effects of childhood trauma, and the stigma associated with mental illness. Research has shown that when comprehensive school-based mental health services are provided, there is improved academic performance, fewer special education referrals, a decreased need for more restrictive placements among students at high-risk, and higher graduation rates. (Source: The Impact of School Mental Health: Educational, Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Outcomes, University of Maryland School of Medicine, July 2013)

The Department has created the Tennessee Comprehensive School-based Mental Health Resource Guide to provide support to school districts interested in expanding their capacity to provide students with mental health supports and services. A school district can request technical assistance from the Department’s Office of Student Support to implement the resource guide strategies. For additional information or to schedule technical assistance, contact:

Janet Watkins, Project Coordinator TN AWARE
Tennessee Department of Education
Office of Student Support
(615) 478-4027
Janet.Watkins@tn.gov

Mental Health and Academic Achievement

If not addressed, mental health concerns can impact a young person’s ability to meet the cognitive demands for learning; social and personal needs for making friends and behaving according to school norms and expectations; and physical demands for activity throughout the school day. Additional information is available here.

Children’s Mental Health Data Brief

To learn about children’s mental health status in Tennessee compared to the United States, view this brief.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training is available statewide. Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent who is in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Additional information on YMHFA, is available here.

For additional information or to schedule a group YMHFA training, contact:

Janet Watkins, Tennessee AWARE Training Director
Tennessee Department of Education
Office of Safe and Supportive Schools
(615) 770-3874
Janet.Watkins@tn.gov

TDOE Awards $10.2M in Resilient School Community Grants

We are excited to announce 97 Tennessee School Districts have been awarded a Resilient School Communities Grant to address needs for school-based supports, expand school-based initiatives, and increase staff capacity to best serve students. 

The grant funding will cover the cost of resources to train participating districts in trauma-informed practices while receiving regional and state-level support for execution. Additionally, the grant funding will extend school-based initiatives and supports within districts through development of comprehensive school-based supports and program models, such as Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education (AWARE). Further, funding will increase staff capacity for school-based supports, including mental health support staff, such as counselors, school psychologists, social workers, and behavioral specialists. 

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