MHTTC Back to School Resources

It’s that time of year again! As schools prepare for the 2024-25 academic year, the MHTTC School Mental Health (SMH) Initiative has released three new resource collections that focus on various priorities facing schools across the country. 

• Recruitment and Retention of School Mental Health Providers of Color: Studies have shown that student outcomes improve for all students by ensuring that students are exposed to, and learn from, school mental health providers and educators with diverse backgrounds. This resource collection highlights several MHTTC-developed resources to help schools and school districts recruit, retain, and increase the diversity of their school mental health providers.
• School Violence: School violence describes violent acts that disrupt learning and have a negative effect on students, schools, and the broader community. School is the location where the violence occurs, not a type of violence. Examples of school violence include bullying and cyberbullying, fighting (e.g., punching, slapping, kicking), weapon use, gang violence, and sexual violence (CDC, 2021). This resource collection highlights several MHTTC-developed resources related to school violence and student mental health.
• Case Identification and Community Case Detection: Case identification and community case detection within a school setting encompasses a comprehensive approach that combines responsible and trauma-informed screening and assessment in educational environments, with the active involvement of key informants from students' homes and communities. This resource collection highlights several MHTTC-developed resources designed to help with case identification and community case detection – tools for creating safe and healthy schools. 

As we continue to address these topics and other priorities, you can register for school mental health training and events in our Training and Events Calendar, find additional school mental health resources in our Products and Resources Catalog, and reach out to the MHTTC in your region for additional support. We wish you the best as you continue your preparation for the upcoming school year!