Grant to address behavioral health programs in public schools

Approximately one in five public school students nationwide have emotional or behavioral needs that affect their home, school, or community success. But less than one-third of those students receive help, and often that help falls short of best practices. The Early Supports for Student Success (ESSS) project is a multisite, grant-funded study examining innovative strategies for delivering high-quality behavioral health programming in elementary schools.  Our primary aim is to strengthen existing problem-solving practices in schools to achieve a continuum of evidence-based care for students that improves academic and behavioral outcomes.  ESSS is a multi-disciplinary effort that interconnects families, educators, administrators, school counselors, behavior support specialists, juvenile justice, and community-based mental health providers.  We thank Pitt County Schools in North Carolina and Rock Hill School District in South Carolina for their support, dedication, and shared leadership on the project!