H79SM087478

MSCS Project AWARE - See Abstract

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) joins with its partners (the TN Department of Education, the TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the SMART Center at the University of Memphis, and the Center for Youth Advocacy & Well-Being at the University of Tennessee) as Memphis-Shelby County Schools' Project AWARE to expand access to school-based mental health services for some of the nation's most disadvantaged schools in one of the nation's cities with the highest childhood risk.

By building on the existing MSCS implementation of Tennessee's Multi-Tiered System of Behavioral Supports (RTI2-B), and addressing gaps in service and need for sustainability activities, MSCS's Project AWARE will implement strategies and interventions that bring awareness to mental health through student, parent, and staff trainings, a developed and implemented suicide training policy, and community activities.

The proposed project will serve MSCS's population of 104,983 students comprised of 70.5% African American, 18.5% Hispanic/Latino, 6.0% White, 2.3% Multiracial, 1.0% Asian, and 1.3% other.

The six goals and associated measurable objectives to guide activities are as follows:

Goal 1: Increase mental health awareness to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking for mental health among school-aged youth.
- Objective 1.1: The number of students demonstrating knowledge of mental wellness self-care increases by 5% yearly.
- Objective 1.2: The number of students receiving suicide prevention & intervention training doubles in year 1 and thereafter increases by 5% yearly.
- Objective 1.3: Student-initiated usage of reset rooms increases by 5% yearly.
- Objective 1.4: Student- or family-initiated usage of family wellness centers increases by 5% each year.
- Objective 1.5: High school YRBS respondents report 5% decreases in risk behaviors tied to mental health awareness campaigns in administrations of the YRBS in 2023 and 2025.

Goal 2: Increase the mental health literacy of individuals who interact with school-aged youth to understand and detect the signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use/misuse, and co-occurring disorders.
- Objective 2.1: At least 10 Tier 1 trainings are offered yearly, with the number of trainees increasing by 5% yearly.
- Objective 2.2: School staff self-describe as more confident (on pre- and post-surveys) in their ability to identify risk factors for mental health, substance use/misuse, and co-occurring issues in students.
- Objective 2.3: Staff-initiated usage of reset rooms increases by 5% yearly.

Goal 3: Promote and foster resilience building and mental health well-being for all school-aged youth.
- Objective 3.1: The percentage of students participating in resiliency building and mental well-being programs through the SEL curriculum is 75% or higher yearly.
- Objective 3.2: Students' positive responses on school climate instruments related to Tier 1 interactions increase by 5% yearly.

Goal 4: Connect school-age youth to trained, mental health literate staff and professionals guided by Tennessee's RTI2-B three-tiered behavioral model.
- Objective 4.1: Teachers' positive responses on school climate instruments related to school-level interventions increase by 5% yearly.
- Objective 4.2: At least 15 Tier 2 trainings are offered yearly, with the number of trainees increasing by 5% yearly.
- Objective 4.3: Tier 3 student compliance with requirements increases by 5% yearly.
- Objective 4.4: Exclusionary suspensions, as a percentage of all suspensions, decreases by 5% yearly.

Goal 5: Enhance collaborative partnerships to include expanded Tier 2 targeted services and Tier 3 intensive services among school-age youth.
- Objective 5.1: The number of students receiving external post-referral care increases by 5% yearly.
- Objective 5.2: Advisory board partners with at least two external referral providers yearly.

Goal 6: Develop infrastructure to sustain and expand culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate, and trauma-informed school and community-based mental health services.
- Objective 6.1: A sustainability plan for successful Project AWARE components is in place by project end.
- Objective 6.2: Policy on student suicide prevention/intervention tra

Shelby County Board Of Education

SAMHSA WAS GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS PRIORITY SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE THROUGH ASSISTANCE (GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS) TO STATES, POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF STATES, INDIAN TRIBES AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER PUBLIC OR NONPROFIT PRIVATE ENTITIES. UNDER THESE SECTIONS, CSAT, CMHS AND CSAP SEEK TO EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY OF EFFECTIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES AVAILABLE TO AMERICANS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE AFFECTED BY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDITIONS, AND TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETIES AND TO ADDRESS PRIORITY MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE AND ASSIST CHILDREN IN DEALING WITH VIOLENCE AND TRAUMATIC EVENTS THROUGH BY FUNDING GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROJECTS. GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS MAY BE FOR (1) KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION PROJECTS FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION AND THE CONDUCT OR SUPPORT OF EVALUATIONS OF SUCH PROJECTS, (2) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, (3) TARGETED CAPACITY RESPONSE PROGRAMS (4) SYSTEMS CHANGE GRANTS INCLUDING STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK GRANTS AND CLIENT-ORIENTED AND CONSUMER RUN SELF-HELP ACTIVITIES AND (5) PROGRAMS TO FOSTER HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, (6) COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION OF PRIMARY CARE SERVICES INTO PUBLICLY-FUNDED COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SETTINGS

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

Division of Grants Management [HHS - SAMHSA]

Memphis, Tennessee 381124801 United States

Single Zip Code

Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) (SM-22-018)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been shortened from 12/30/26 to 09/29/26 and the total obligations have increased 100% from $3,600,000 to $7,200,000.