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NORC at the University Chicago

Wyoming’s School-Based, Trauma-Informed Support Services

Teen girl giving interview to social worker. School psychologist talking with student, counseling, therapy, help and support for adolescents
Evaluation and technical assistance for community-based grantees providing mental health services to students
  • Client
    Wyoming Department of Education
  • Dates
    2023 – 2027

Problem

The Wyoming Department of Education wanted to support grantees providing trauma-informed mental health services to students.

To increase student access to evidence-based trauma support services and mental health care, the Trauma-Informed Services in Schools grant program helps grantees link local school systems with local trauma-informed support and mental health systems. The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) is partnering with two local education agencies and community behavioral health providers to implement their grant.

The WDE and its partners hope to learn more about barriers and facilitators to implementation, as well as information about strategies that are effective in identifying, referring, and connecting children and youth with mental health services. They also hope to learn the features of effective partnerships between local education agencies and community-based mental health service providers.

Solution

NORC will support implementation and evaluation of collaborative partnerships between school districts and community-based mental health service providers.

Our evaluation will examine progress toward the eight objectives the project team identified for their work, the three performance measures the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration identified for all grant recipients, and the short- and mid-term outcomes in the theory of change. Notable evaluation questions we will explore include:

  • What strategies were effective in identifying, referring, and connecting children and youth with mental health services?
  • What were the successes and challenges associated with initiatives, activities, and programs?
  • What are the features of effective partnerships between local education agencies and community-based mental health service providers?
  • Do students who complete services report improved mental wellness, functioning, and support and belonging?
  • What is the effect of participation in grant services on student attendance?

Result

Our work will help inform a model for improving access to school-based mental health counseling in Wyoming via partnerships with local providers.

This evaluation builds on the evaluation of Project AWARE in Wyoming, which will help the WDE design and implement an effective, sustainable model for partnering with local education agencies and behavioral health providers to provide school-based mental health counseling.

It will provide additional insights on how to support collaborative partnerships between local education agencies and community-based mental health service providers, thereby increasing the availability of screening, referral, and treatment services for students and their families.

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