Miami University has announced their award of $5M through a partnership between OhioMHAS and the Ohio Department of Education to prioritize mental health and wellness for K-12 students and staff across the state. The grant will allow Miami to transform the Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs into a new School-based Center of Excellence (SBCOE) for Prevention and Early Intervention to address an ongoing mental health crisis.
The SBCOE will act as a hub to house a host of current and ongoing school-based mental health initiatives, statewide projects, and multi-year projects including the Ohio School Wellness Initiative (OSWI), which recently completed a 21-month plan to establish best practice standards for student assistance programs and staff wellness frameworks.
Alongside OSWI, the SBCOE will oversee several additional plans and projects including:
Supporting a workforce development program to address the shortage of K-12 mental health providers by providing training and support for aspiring and existing professionals.
Facilitating key collaborative partnerships among educational institutions, professional organizations, and businesses that have a vested interest in the well-being of families, children, students, and schools across communities.
Establishing more services for students who may need extra support, as well as for those with previously diagnosed mental health or substance use issues who may need intensive individualized services.
To learn more, read Miami University's full announcement here.
