The Texas Education Agency’s Student Supports Division and our Project AWARE Texas partners are hosting a series of webinars to highlight resources and best practice strategies on timely and relevant safe and supportive schools topics. Session topics include universal supports for school mental health, bullying prevention, psychological safety, and data informed decision-making to support school mental health. All sessions will be held from 11am to 12:30pm CST. Participants attending the live Webinar sessions are eligible to receive CEU credit from TEA. 

March 13th, 2025- Utilizing Resources from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to Support School Mental Health 

Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XxYoLdUjTGKBNmtOJTeX-g 

May 8th, 2025- TIER 1 Mental Health Promotion 

Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3Kj2T9HwS6CXQkv6c1uVAg 

Did you miss a Webinar session?  You can review TEA’s past Texas School Mental Health Webinar recordings posted here: Recorded TEA School Mental Health Webinars  

Safety Planning Intervention (SPI): is an evidence-based intervention training. This training teaches participants how to conduct safety planning with an individual who may be at risk for suicide. Safety planning is a written, prioritized list of coping strategies and resources for reducing suicide risk that is completed in a collaborative manner between the individual at risk and the mental health professional (e.g. school counselor, nurses, social workers, licensed professional counselors, etc.) working with them. Participants will learn how to:   

• Discuss the evidence behind and rationale for Safety Planning Intervention and 
• Describe and discuss each of the steps in the intervention    

Trainings are hosted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and are intended for a wide range of mental health professionals. Training dates are listed below:  

5/8/25 8:30am-12:30pm

8/7/25 8:30am-12:30pm

To register for a free training or learn more email: suicide.prevention@hhs.texas.gov.   

Thrive Fest is a free community event that brings families together to celebrate Children's Mental Health Acceptance Day. Attendees can enjoy live performances, interactive activities, and connect with local mental health exhibitors and resources. Thrive Fest aims to challenge stigma, encourage open conversations about mental health, and ensure families have access to the support they need.  

Organized by Texas System of Care in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area and local mental health organizations, Thrive Fest is an opportunity for the community to come together, learn, and celebrate youth mental well-being. Join them on April 26th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area Headquarters, 6648 Ed Bluestein Blvd., Austin, TX 78723. 

Laredo ISD (LISD) partnered with local community provider Serving Children and Adults in Need (SCAN) to provide a  three-tiered multi-tiered system of support (MTSS)— which includes evidence-based universal and secondary prevention and tertiary intervention strategies. The partnership between SCAN and LISD has existed for over 30 years and has continued to improve through implementation of Project AWARE. The SCAN-LISD AWARE project provides school-based mental health programs and services to help students and families while also providing training to school staff.  

One of the highlights of the SCAN-LISD AWARE program has been the implementation of evidence-based programs to strengthen LISD’s strategies for substance use prevention. SCAN staff members implemented Positive Action and Curriculum Based Support Groups (CBSG) throughout LISD campuses. Implementation of these programs showed that students from 1st to 12th grade improved their drug prevention skills, life/social skills, and self-esteem.  

When considering the Texas School Mental Health Framework, Laredo ISD’s partnership with SCAN addresses multiple components of a comprehensive school mental health system including positive youth development, trauma-informed practices, substance use prevention and intervention, and professional development and training. Click here to learn more about the Laredo ISD partnership with SCAN to build mental health awareness and resiliency in their school community.   

Supporting the mental and behavioral health of students is beneficial to school attendance, academic achievement, and ensuring students feel a sense of belonging and safety. The most recent data from the Texas Youth Risk and Behavior Survey (YRBS) showed that over 42% of high school students felt sad or hopeless. Additionally, the Year 5 report from the Texas Collaborative Task force on School Mental Health Services indicates growing numbers of students in Texas facing challenges with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Supporting student mental health is as important now than ever before, below are some tips on how schools can address student mental health.  

• Increase Staff Mental Health Literacy: Educator training is important to ensuring all adults in schools understand how to identify and respond to student mental health concerns. Training programs like Youth Mental Health First Aid, AS+K About Suicide, and Psychological First Aid support educators in playing a role to ensure students get the mental health supports they need. Additionally, staff understanding local district/campus procedures for referring students identified as needing support is essential to increasing staff mental health literacy.  

• Foster Safe and Supportive Learning Environments: Creating safe and supportive learning environments can increase student connectedness, impact student mental health and wellbeing, and reduce the chances of students engaging in risky behavior. Implementing evidence-based practices to improve school climate and promote trauma and grief informed care will positively impact student outcomes.  

• Engage Parents & Caregivers: Parents and families play an important role in supporting student mental health at school and at home. Educators can engage parents through mental health literacy trainings, resource fairs, and skill building opportunities among other strategies.  

Excerpts from: “Mental Health Resources” from SchoolSafety.gov a partnership between the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

To reach the Mental and Behavioral Health team email: mentalandbehavioralhealth@tea.texas.gov