West Virginia Department of Education receives $1.5M Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Project aware West Virginia: nicholas, Wyoming and upshur - the West Virginia Department Of Education proposes to implement project aware wv to strengthen and sustain comprehensive school mental health systems in 3 rural leas serving approximately 9,336 k–12 students across nicholas, upshur, and Wyoming counties. The project will build local capacity through West Virginia’s expanded school mental health and multi-tiered system of supports frameworks, including behavioral health needs assessments, resource mapping, school readiness assessments, workforce development, implementation coaching, technical assistance, improved referral pathways, family engagement, and evidence-based mental health promotion, suicide prevention, substance use prevention, and early intervention services. Goals are to strengthen infrastructure and organizational capacity, expand access to prevention, early intervention, and treatment services, strengthen workforce capacity, and establish sustainable systems of care. Within 3 months, 100% of participating leas will establish project aware advisory boards and community partnerships; within 6 months, all will complete needs assessments, resource mapping, and readiness assessments. By year 2, 100% of participating schools will implement at least 1 evidence-based prevention program, and by year 3, 100% will implement tier 2 and tier 3 behavioral health supports. Sustainability plans will be developed and updated annually.