Our School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) model started with a general focus on simply “being with” young people in their natural habitat. Great emphasis was placed on hanging out with kids, showing interest in their lives, their feelings, their histories, and their personalities. Young people are perpetually in a state of expression. Their words, actions, likes/dislikes, reactions, responses, dreams, etc. are all a reflection of who they are, are in the process of becoming, and wish to become. By nature, kids want and need the stewardship of adults, and also by the same nature are confronted by the responsibilities, boundaries, and limits that adults provide. Nevertheless, they need the combination of these two forces to thrive. This understanding and thinking style has proven to be the most effective way to organically cultivate a school culture and climate that genuinely reflects compassion and support while fostering the four habits of lifelong learning: Resilience, Empathy, Critical Thinking, and Creativity.

Our goals are to:

• Strengthen our capacity to provide prevention, intervention, and postvention (at all three tiers of service) in the form of meaningful student involvement and interaction - responding more positively to student need with an emphasis on working with students as opposed to working for them.

• Create and promote a positive school culture and climate based on cultivating and sustaining healthy, secure, and attuned adult-student relationships that contribute to and nurture our student-centered school “family.”

• Provide resources, suggestions, and information that will help our community maximize resilience and emotional well-being at this important time and beyond.