This newfound support has allowed Avon to establish a district Mental Wellness Team, who collaboratively developed a programmatic structure aligned with the district’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) activities. Krista continues to ensure cohesion and smooth transition between Avon Community School Corporation and community mental health provider, Cummins.

During this time, they developed a unique SEL curriculum for grades K-12 using IDOE’s competencies and lesson plans. Additionally, two of the district’s mental health leaders attended a seven-day Conscious Discipline training and shared their learnings with all teachers at their Back to School Retreat. This helped create a shared vision and language for positive discipline and behavior supports. Perry’s efforts are strengthened by social workers and counselors who provide additional supports for referred students.

Vigo has strengthened their partnership with a community mental health provider to provide Youth Mental First Aid trainings for educators, mental health workers, and additional school staff. In 2019, 209 Vigo participants took part in this training to decrease stigma associated with mental health problems and increase knowledge of early warning signs of mental illness. Vigo continues to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings to faculty and staff—enabling them to better assist students that may be experiencing a mental health crisis.