Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education)

The purpose of Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) is to develop a sustainable infrastructure for kindergarten through grade 12 school-based mental health programs and services. Expectations are to deploy a public health model to implement mental health related promotion, awareness, prevention, and intervention activities to ensure that students have access and are connected to appropriate and effective behavioral health services.

Eligible activities include support to teachers and school personnel promoting staff wellness, mental well-being, and resilience to better serve school-aged youth with behavioral health issues. Program plans must be culturally competent, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, evidence-based or evidence-informed, and address the effects of COVID-19. Goals are to promote healthy social and emotional development of school-aged youth and prevent youth violence in school settings. Eligible applicants are states; political subdivisions of states such as counties and local education agencies; Indian tribes or tribal organizations, health facilities, and programs operated by or in accordance with a contract or grant with the Indian Health Services; and other domestic public and private nonprofit entities.

Collaborative partnerships are required with state education agencies, local education agencies, state mental health agencies, community-based providers of behavioral health services, school personnel, community organizations, families, and school-aged youth. Cost sharing and matching funds are not required. Applications must be submitted online.