H79SM085330

Creating Culturally-Informed, Trauma-Informed Schools on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation: Project AWARE

Summary:
Project AWARE operates on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to serve K–12 students that experience disproportionately high rates of historical and contemporary traumas. By implementing a trauma-informed school model, the project equips students, parents, families, and community members to appropriately respond to trauma and provide mental and behavioral health interventions.

Project Name: Project AWARE on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Total Number of People to be Served: 2,522 (lifetime). 1,210 (unduplicated individuals to be served in year 1); 328 (unduplicated individuals to be served in year 2, 3, 4, and 5).

Population to be Served:
This project will serve K–12 students enrolled at four schools on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation: 99% of students are Native American. Students served have high rates of traumatic backgrounds as measured by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire; all surveyed students had backgrounds that included some significant trauma.

Strategies and Interventions:
To address this trauma, Project AWARE will implement the trauma-informed schools model, an evidence-based best practice. This will permit intervention with mental and behavioral health counseling to help students cope with trauma, heal, and refocus on academic learning. The trauma-informed schools model will be implemented in a culturally relevant manner and include training and services for students, school staff, families, and community members. Our schools partner with a tribally chartered organization, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Health Administration Program, which provides access to telehealth and related services.

Goals and Objectives:

Goals:
(1) Increase knowledge of local school district staff members to identify, report, and support students demonstrating behavioral/mental health consequences of trauma;
(2) Increase student access to culturally competent, evidence-based, behavioral/mental health counseling in their own schools;
(3) Increase positive student perception of the school environment.

Each goal has two measurable objectives:
(1A) By the end of 2026, all staff members will have received an annual training about the trauma-informed schools model from a certified professional in the subject;
(1B) By the end of each year, at least 190 community members will have attended a training about the trauma-informed schools model from a certified presenter.
(2A) By the end of December 2021, every school will have at least one full-time Wayawa Kin Slolic'iya Wicaye (“WKSW”) focused on mental and behavioral health;
(2B) By the end of May 2022, the project will develop a common framework for responding to trauma-induced mental/behavioral health concerns displayed by students;
(3A) By the end of each year, student Tripod surveys will increase by at least 5% annually, demonstrating increased positive perception of the school environment;
(3B) By December 2021, all schools will be providing individual and small group counseling support sessions for students identified at risk for trauma-induced mental/behavioral health warning signs.

Little Wound School Board

NOT APPLICABLE

93.243 - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance

Division of Grants Management [HHS - SAMHSA]

Kyle, South Dakota 577523080 United States

Single Zip Code

Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) State Education Agency Grants (SM-21-006)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 34% from $5,328,769 to $7,127,547.