HELM IES Grant Award!
We are thrilled to announce that the University of Washington School Mental Health Assessment, Research, and Training Center (UW SMART Center) has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to support our project, “Testing the Efficacy of the Helping Educational Leaders Mobilize Evidence (HELM) Implementation Strategy.”
This four-year grant, totaling $3,999,987, is 100% IES-funded and will enable us to explore the impact of the HELM strategy on promoting effective leadership and high-fidelity delivery of evidence-based practices in elementary schools.
Led by Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Jill Locke and Co-PI Dr. Aaron Lyon, our research will focus on enhancing the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in 40 elementary schools across Washington state. We aim to improve student academic outcomes and overall school climate through this innovative approach.
Sign up for the SMART Center newsletter for updates on HELM:
Sign Up Here(Updated 11/04/24)
Two New Publications
Check out our latest publication in NIH, “Helping Educational Leaders Mobilize Evidence (HELM): The iterative redesign of the Leadership and Organizational Change for Implementation (LOCI) intervention for use in schools.”
Read Article Here
SMARTies Jill Locke, Olivia Michael, and team authored – “Redesigning an Autism Evidence-Based Practice Adoption and Decision-Making Implementation Toolkit for Middle and High Schools.” Learn more about the community-partnered redesign for schools.
Read Article Here(Updated 5/15/24)
Northwest MHTTC School Mental Health Newsletters
We invite you to read and access the many resources shared in our newsletters to help your students thrive.
(Updated 4/19/24)
School Mental Health Newsletters
(Updated 1/12/24)
Attention MSW Students!
The Workforce for Student Well-being Initiative (WSW), is actively recruiting for the second year of cohort members. Please spread the word to any interested diverse and committed applicants.
More information and application materials are on the WSW website.
The deadline for applications is April 30, 2024.
(Updated 3/22/24)
Participate in UW College of Education’s ibestt Tool Study
Is your district or school looking for a system to help teams implement individualized behavior supports? Is your district or school interested in free access to an app that will help them implement positive behavior supports?
A team of University of Washington College of Education researchers is looking for schools interested in helping us test the effectiveness of an online app — ibestt. The app helps school teams and teachers collaborate to develop and implement positive behavior supports in the classroom.
Participants will receive free training and ongoing support related to individualized behavior interventions and free access to a collaboration app designed by educators and researchers. See the flyer below or email ibesttstudy@uw.edu to learn more.
Check Out the Flyer Here(Updated 2/09/24)
Mental Health Literacy Champion
Congratulations to Chad’s Legacy Project for being recognized as a Mental Health Literacy Champion for its Mental Health Instruction Resource Library! The SMART Center was proud to collaborate on this critical resource.
Check Out The Post Here(Updated 1/26/24)
New Resource Aims to Help Washington Teachers with Mental Health Education
We are a proud partner of Chad’s Legacy Project in developing the Mental Health Instruction Library. Check out KOMO News to learn about this resource in action.
Access KOMO News Article Here(Updated 1/26/24)
Pasco School District helping students both in and out of school
Pasco School District, a SMART Center partner, spoke with their local news station about how they support student wellness as they head back to school.
Watch VideoBehavioral Threat Assessment in Schools: Evidence, Fit, and Appropriateness
School violence, including school-based gun violence, is a major public health issue that has negative consequences for students, families, schools, and communities (Basile et al., 2020; Peterson et al., 2021). One approach that schools have adopted to address school violence is behavioral threat assessment (BTA). Based on a request from our funder, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), we developed a report on behavioral threat assessment and its intersection with youth mental health.
This report aims to:
- Describe the problem of school violence and how BTA became a widely implemented school violence prevention strategy;
- Report on the current state of BTA implementation and its effectiveness;
- Discuss considerations for the fit and appropriateness of using BTA in schools; and
- Offer recommendations for schools, policymakers, funders, researchers, and SAMHSA on addressing BTA use in schools.
Disaster Behavioral Health: Response and Recovery Considerations
From wildfires to school shootings, we need to be prepared to support the mental health of students, staff and families in our school communities when disaster strikes. This concise resource is a critical tool in building your response plans.
Access Resource HereHow a Washington school district built community trust with a wellness center
The H.U.B. in Medical Lake School District offers free coffee, 1-on-1 time with administrators and essential mental health resources.
Nikki Bauman, a parent partner at Medical Lake School District in Washington, right, and Kelcey Schmitz, director of training and technical assistance at the University of Washington, speak during a July 25 session at OSEP’s Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference.
Access The Full ArticleA Pathway to Recovery and Resilience for Our Children and Youth
A collaborative of national experts including training and technical assistance team members from The UW SMART Center developed an action agenda with recommendations to address the growing mental health needs of students and educators. A Pathway to Recovery and Resilience for Our Children and Youth, calls on educational and collaborating youth system leaders to address the youth mental health crisis and take advantage of funding, policy, and other opportunities to make novel and meaningful changes that support the positive mental health and wellbeing of all students and educators.
Click Here for the Action Agenda
Updated 1/17/2024
Addressing the Impact of Racism and Associated Trauma
Resources to support youth in schools and at home.
Download Resource SheetAnnouncing Workforce for Student Well-being (WSW)
A statewide collaboration to increase the number, diversity and skills of school social workers working in WA schools in the next 5 years.
Download One-PagerFree One-Day Alaska Workshops: Effective Practices to Support Mental Health In Schools
Register Now!
The Alaska Autism Resource Center and the Northwest Mental Health Technology Center invite educators from Alaska and their community partners to join this one-day workshop in either Sitka, Anchorage, or Nome.
Please share the event flyer with your colleagues in Alaska!
Join us for this one-day workshop with your school or district team to learn more about:
- Anxiety, depression, and impacts of trauma.
- Crisis response and recovery related to behavioral health in small and large–scale critical incidents and disasters.
- Common mental and behavioral health symptoms, as well as underlying contributing factors that play out in a classroom setting, and effective practices and strategies to support all students within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
- The role of School and District Leadership in implementation and strategies for school and system leaders.
- New autism research and interventions to support autistic students within an MTSS.
- Free resources from state, regional and national TA centers.
National, regional and state mental health technical assistance providers, practitioners, licensed mental health professionals, and researchers with the University of Washington School Mental Health Assessment, Research and Training Center will help you get your journey started, or enhance, implementation of effective systems, data and practices to integrate student mental health and wellness.
TRAINING LOCATIONS AND EVENT INFORMATION:
SITKA
MONDAY, MAY 1ST @ 9:00AM – 3:00PM
Harrigan Centennial Hall
330 Harbor Drive, Sitka, AK 99835
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ANCHORAGE
THURSDAY, MAY 4TH @ 9:00AM – 3:00PM
The Lakefront Anchorage
4800 Spenard Road, Anchorage, AK 99517
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NOME
SATURDAY, MAY 6TH @ 9:00AM – 3:00PM
Old St. Joseph’s Church
102 Division Street, Nome, AK 99762
INTENDED AUDIENCE: YOUR TEAM!
District administrators, principals, special educators, paraeducators, school psychologists, and related service providers (i.e., mental health provider, BCBA, social worker, OT/PT/SLP)
Registration Information:
This training is intended exclusively for Alaskan residents. There is no registration fee to attend the training. Attendees are responsible for paying/booking their own travel and lodging.
NOTE: When booking at The Lakefront Anchorage, please request to reserve a room in the AARC block for a discounted rate.
Questions?
Contact Kendra Wolf by email, kwolf@sesa.org
Register Now!
Forward
Opinion and Thoughts From The UW Family
Helping Youth In Crisis
With the continuing youth mental health crisis, the SMART Center is joining forces with other Washington State organizations to implement a new Department of Education grant to increase the number of school social workers in our state over the next five years.
Download Article
2023 Spring Lecture Series: Interconnected System Framework
The Washington State Association of School Psychologists‘ is hosting their four-week 2023 Spring Lecture Series on the Interconnected System Framework (ISF). Led by the ESA Behavioral Health Coalition and UW SMART Center, experts in the field as well as professionals who are implementing the framework share what your school or district team can learn about ISF, how to benefit from the experience of others, and how to spend time creating a plan for change.
Participation begins at $75 for morning sessions. Registration is required.
Who: District and Building Level Teams including administrators, ESA Behavioral Health Professionals (e.g., school psychologists, counselors, nurses, social workers, behavior analysts), and community partners.
How: Join virtually. $75 for morning sessions or a one-time fee for the full lecture series. Registration is required.
When: Monthly series sessions from 9am-12pm PST.
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February 17: ISF in Washington State: Richland District
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March 20: What is ISF/MTSS
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April 21: How to Move Towards Change: Advocacy and Implementation Science
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May 12: Developing an Action Plan
Winter 2023 School Mental Health Northwest MHTTC Newsletter
Happy New Year, Friend! Our wish for you in 2023…
May your Multi-tiered System of Supports flow like a beautiful symphony.
May your thirst for school mental health resources be quenched through the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network’s many offerings.
May your desire for connection and networking in Region 10 be fulfilled during the variety of conferences offered throughout the year – hot tip: see our list of upcoming conferences below!
May your surveys and assessments return more favorable data, showing students are starting to recover from pandemic lows.
May you recognize and use the magic you hold in elevating student mental health within your schools and communities.
Together, we are making an impact, so please do not hesitate to let us know how we can support you on this quest.
Cheers to good health, new beginnings, and opportunities for change!
View NewsletterUpdated 1/20/23
New! Community of Practice: Interconnected systems (school mental health and PBIS) within an MTSS framework
The Center on PBIS is hosting a series of monthly Community of Practice (CoP) sessions to bring people together in an effort to explore how a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) can strengthen current efforts to support increasing needs. Members of the UW SMART Training and TA team are excited to be collaborating with the Center on PBIS to facilitate the Community of Practice. Participants will have time for learning and processing with others in this space. Team participation is highly encouraged.
Participation is provided at no cost. Registration is required.
Who: Leadership Team hiring clinicians, Leadership Teams recruiting diverse workforces, Clinicians new to working with leadership teams, Individual clinicians
What: Join others from across the country to learn and be in community with practitioners, technical assistance providers, and other educational and mental health system professionals.
How: Join virtually. No cost. Registration is required.
When: Monthly series. All CoPs from noon-1:30pm CST
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March 21
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April 20
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May 18
*Click on date for registration. All links coming soon!
Session Materials Download FlyerUpdated 1/18/23
Applications have closed for our June 2023 Research Institute for Implementation Science in Education (RIISE).
Learn more about RIISE here.
Updated 12/20/22
Applications are now open for our June 2023 Research Institute for Implementation Science in Education (RIISE).
Learn more about RIISE here.
Updated 10/4/22
Supporting Our Communities Through Tragedy
In response to the recent shootings in Uvalde, TX and Buffalo, NY, the Northwest MHTTC School Mental Health team has compiled a variety of free resources to help support youth and school staff in your lives – as well as one another – as we respond to these traumatic events. Access the resources here.
Updated 5/27/2022
Preparing Teachers & Paraeducators for the Successful Inclusion of Autistic Children (ASD PREP) is now recruiting for Phases 2 and 3!
| Learn more about the project and how to participate here. |
The purpose of the ASD PREP study is to identify which evidence-based practices (EBPs) and strategies teachers and paraeducators use to more meaningfully include and retain autistic children in general education settings. We are recruiting General Education Teachers, Special Education Teachers, and Paraeducators who work with autistic students for Phases 2 and 3 of our research study:
- Phase 2: Participants will provide feedback on their EBP use via an online survey (~45 minutes). Some participants in Phase 2 also will be invited to participate in Phase 3. You will receive a $60 gift card as a thank you for your time and feedback.
- Phase 3: Participants will provide feedback on EBP use and individual and organizational factors that impact EBP use via a 45-60 minute phone/Zoom interview. You will receive a $40 gift card as a thank you for your time and feedback.
Updated 11/24/21
Applications have closed for our June 2022 Research Institute for Implementation Science in Education (RIISE).
The next application cycle will begin in Fall 2022. Learn more about RIISE here.
Updated 1/10/22
The School Mental Health Supplement to the Northwest MHTTC recently completed its third year and is well underway in its fourth year of programming.
Learn more about what they have accomplished in their third year of operations and their first three years of operations below!