York City SD receives $1.4M Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Project aware: (advancing wellness and resiliency in education) - the school district of the city of york will implement project aware across 10 pk-12 schools serving approximately 6,250 students in the city of york, Pennsylvania. The project will build a sustainable districtwide three-tiered framework for mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorder supports. Tier 1 promotion and prevention will reach approximately 1,860 students annually through schoolwide pbis, student and staff mental health literacy, and suicide awareness and prevention training. Tier 2 and tier 3 services will provide screening, brief intervention, referral, and evidence-based individual and group treatment to an estimated 138 students annually who screen positive for elevated trauma, depression, or behavioral health need. The district will establish an advisory board within 6 months of award, conduct a needs assessment and resource mapping, formalize interagency mous, and develop a three-tiered plan. Tier 2 will include a multidisciplinary at-risk support team, screening, and brief intervention; tier 3 will use embedded licensed clinicians to deliver trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and interventions for trauma in schools, coordinated with school counselors and 988 crisis services. The project will also develop sustainability and evaluation plans and engage parents and guardians in their children’s care.