Educational Service District 105

South Central Washington School-based Mental Health Integration Project - Educational Service District 105’S (esd 105) Proposed Project, South-central Washington School-based Mental Health Integration Project (MHIP) Would Provide School-based Trauma-informed Mental Health Services to Children Aged 3 to Grade 12 in 4 Small School Districts in South Central Washington: Highland, Mabton, Mount Adams, and Naches Valley. These School Districts Are Disproportionately Low-income Compared to the Rest of Washington State and Serve Large Populations of Hispanic, Native/indigenous, English Language Learner, and Migrant Students. in Addition to Other Types of Trauma, Both Intergenerational and First-generation Trauma Are Common Among the Hispanic/latino and Native/indigenous Communities. According to the Washington Healthy Youth Survey (2021), the Youth in the Schools That the Mhip Will Serve Experience High Rates of Anxiety and Depression and Substantial Portions Report Not Having an Adult to Turn to When Feeling Sad or Hopeless. Both Suicidal Ideation and Attempted Suicide Rates Are Concerningly High Among These Schools’ Youth. the Mhip Will Address These Concerns by Implementing School-wide Multi-tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) in One Middle and One High School in Each of the Four School Districts Which Will Include Universal Mental Health Screenings, Mental Health Awareness Interventions, Referral Processes, and Both Group and Individual Mental Health Services. the Mhip Will Mitigate Some of the Major Barriers Typically Faced by Youth in Need of Mental Health Services by Providing Those Services to Youth at No Cost and in Their School Where They Spend the Majority of Their Time. the Project Will Also Provide Early Intervention Services to Children Under the Age of 5 and Their Families in Early Childhood Care Centers. Finally, the Project Will Provide Trainings to School Staff and Community Members to Increase Awareness Among Adults Who Have Contact With Youth About the Trauma and Mental Health Issues Experienced by Youth So That They Can Properly Identify Youth in Need of Services and Connect Them With Those Services. the Specific Goals of Mhip Are: 1. Build Capacity of Participating Schools and Early Childhood Centers to Integrate Trauma-informed Mental Health Services Into These Facilities to Meet the Needs of Youth. 2. Increase Awareness of Youth Trauma and Mental Health Issues Among Youth and Adults in Contact With Youth to Ensure Youth in Need of Services Are Identified and Referred to Services. 3. Identify Youth in Need of Services and Provide Trauma-informed Mental Health Services to Them. the Mhip Plans to Provide Mental Health Services, Both Group and Individual, to 2,050 Children Over the Four Years of the Project.