Our Fall Newsletter is here!🍂🗞️ Student well-being + academic success go hand in hand—one can’t happen w/out the other. This issue, we’re diving into funding updates, research, publications, trainings, resources, & more to keep student #mentalhealth a priority. Check it out today 👉 conta.cc/4m6YR6Z

🚨Youth mental health needs are at an all-time high, but the workforce is stretched thin. Our study of Washington State’s BH-SAP shows paraprofessionals in schools make a big impact: ✅ 2,500+ students supported ✅ More hope, stronger connections, fewer issues ✅ 96% found it helpful Read Full study👇

📣School-based #mentalhealth pros: Join the WSW Skills Institute, a 3-part virtual training for #schoolsocialworkers, #counselors, #psychologists, #nurses & #BCBAs. Learn MTSS strategies for absenteeism, suicide prevention & more. Oct 8, 15, & 22 | $100/session or $250 all. 👉 bit.ly/Register-WSW...

📣School leaders & policy-makers: student #mentalhealth can’t wait! -58%+ of teens face anxiety/depression -1 in 5 need clinical care -Universal SEBMH screening = early support Our analysis shows mixed implementation, guidance gaps, but strong support. 📄Read our 2-page legislative executive brief👇

New school year = new resources! WA schools now have Best Practice Guides for Universal SEBMH Screening—a practical tool to support student #mentalhealth. 👉 Guides: bit.ly/UniversalScr... 📘 Full report: bit.ly/WAScreeningR... 🌐 More resources: smartcenter.uw.edu/smart-ortal #BackToSchool2025

WA High Schools: Join the UW SMART Center’s BRIDGE Study this fall! Free training for staff on BRISC, a proven Tier 2 #mentalhealth program, plus payments for participants. Help improve student support!! Email [email protected] to learn more. bit.ly/UWSMARTCntr-...

Guest Speaker Spotlight!🌟 Join us Aug 6 for WSW Summer Institute | Tiered Solutions to Complex School-Based Mental Health Topics. Session 1: Featuring John Taylor, a nationally recognized Seattle school counselor with an award-winning attendance program. Register: wswinitiative.org/wsw-in-the-n...

Our USABILITY Study at UW is seeking 4th-6th grade public school students to test social-emotional learning activities on Zoom. 2 hrs of your time = $200 gift card! Help us improve youth education & test how easy, hard, and engaging these activities are. Questions? 📩 [email protected] Sign up👇

New from our Training & Technical Assistance Team: Final report on Universal Screening for student social-emotional, behavioral & mental health (SEBMH) in WA schools. Educators support screening, but barriers like unclear definitions, limited resources & legal confusion remain. Read full report👇

📢New publication! Led by SMARTie Eric Bruns & Carol Ann Davis, this study offers expert recommendations for adapting #Wraparound to schools. The model aims to better support elementary students w/complex needs. Shout out to former SMARTies Katherine Soon (SUNNY-Albany) & Olivia Linkous (VCU)! Read👇

Just wrapped an incredible wk @ the 2025 UConn Training Institute! Highlights: Dr. Vivek Murthy on #YouthMentalHealth & connection A powerful panel on belonging & #YoungPeopleThrive Connected w/40+ Wraparound leaders nationwide Thanks to UConn @Innovations Institute— leaving recharged + inspired!

Busy & inspiring wk @ UConn’s #2025TrainingInstitutes! SMARTies Nikki York & Rachel Barrett shared WA’s Workforce for Student Wellbeing Initiative. Bonus: Cookie Monster joined our co-Director Eric Bruns & the BH-SAP Team, reminding us all of the vital role we play in helping #YoungPeopleThrive!

Kicked off an impactful week @ UConn’s #2025TrainingInstitutes! Our Wraparound Evaluation and Research Team (wrapresearch.org) shared wraparound research at the poster session & connected w/colleagues from across the U.S. working to support youth & families. #WrapAroundCare #YoungPeopleThrive

Summer must-read/watch for educators☀️ Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation📘+his talk Smartphones vs. Smart Kids👇 🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVq4... Eye-opening insights on how phones & social media are impacting student #mentalhealth— & what we can do. Share w/your teams, start the conversation!

At the UW SMART Center, we honor the history, leadership, & contributions of people w/disabilities & the work still needed for true inclusion. This #DisabilityHistoryAndAwareness Month, we proudly reaffirm our commitment to advancing equity, mental health & access for all students in every #school.

📣 School-based #mentalhealth pros: Join the WSW Summer Institute, a 3-part virtual training for #schoolsocialworkers, #counselors, #psychologists & #BCBAs. Learn MTSS strategies for absenteeism, suicide prevention & more. Aug 6, 13, 20 | $100/session or $250 all. Register: bit.ly/Register-WSW...

July is BIPOC #MentalHealth Month. We honor Bebe Moore Campbell’s legacy and uplift the need for culturally responsive, equitable mental health care for BIPOC communities. Mental health is not one-size-fits-all. 📚Learn more: mhanational.org/BIPOC-mental...

Dr. Jill Locke, ranked #13 Autism researcher in the world: bit.ly/25-Prominent..., & former SMART Co-Director, is heading to UCLA. Thank you so much for your leadership, mentorship & impact. We'll miss you but look forward to our continued collaboration. Best wishes to you & your family in LA! 💛

Juneteenth marks freedom and resilience—158 years since the last enslaved people in Texas were freed, 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. #Juneteenth reminds us of the power of liberation and the strength of those who fought for it — and still do.✊🖤 Learn more: @NMAAHC🔗

📣ESAs—Don’t miss the WSW Summer Institute! A 3-part virtual MTSS training focused on today’s top #schoolmentalhealth challenges. 🗓 Aug 6, 13, 20 | 9 AM–12 PM PDT $100/session or $250/all | Clock Hours | PESB Approved Register today: bit.ly/Register-WSW...

📉WA dropped from 14th to 16th in the nation for child well-being (2025 KIDS COUNT®). Children’s Alliance recently shared this report, showing declines in health, education & finances—driven by pandemic impacts & economic strain. Prioritizing #mentalhealth & whole-child support is key! Learn more ⬇️

Hats off to #schoolsocialworkers!🎓💛 At the Workforce for Student Well-being Retreat, Erin Vidler Romanuk (Lake WA SD) reminded us: You are the heartbeat of student well-being, the quiet force behind breakthroughs, & champions of hope. Congrats 2025 WSW Cohort! Full speech: bit.ly/WSW-2025Retr...

Educators: it’s time to recharge! ☀️🧘📚 Schedule true rest, unplug from work, choose PD that nurtures your wellbeing, and make space for joy—read, hike, dance, nap, or explore every day/week. Restoration is professional development, too.💛 You deserve it. #MentalHealth #SummerBreak #EducatorWellness

📣ESAs! Join our WSW Summer Institute— a 3-part virtual MTSS training for urgent #schoolmentalhealth needs. 🗓 Aug 6, 13, 20 | 9 AM–12 PM PDT | $100/session or $250/all | Clock Hours | PESB Approved Topics: absenteeism, school violence, suicide intervention. Register today: bit.ly/Register-WSW...

Calling elementary schools w/#PBIS teams—boost team meetings & student success! Join the Team-Initiated Problem-Solving Study. Schools earn up to $350 or a SWIS subscription, & more! Visit: blogs.uoregon.edu/tips/ Apply now: bit.ly/TIPS-PBIS-Ap... for Summer/Fall 2025 start. #DataDrivenDecisions

SunRIISE was a big success in our journey to grow the field & train future Implementation Scientists! We partnered w/ @thefcrr.bsky.social at Florida State University for a 3-day deep dive into #implementationscience in #education— covering frameworks, research design, & real-world strategies.

June is #PrideMonth!🌈 A time to honor Stonewall, uplift 2SLGBTQIA+ voices, celebrate their history & resilience, & commit to lasting equity in education. 🗺️ Teach inclusive history 📖 Read affirming stories ⚖️ Challenge bias Diversity is everyone’s history—all year long. 🔗 www.adl.org/resources/to...

Great vibes + even better people at the Early Career Preventionist Network Social last night! 🎉 #SPR2025 is such a great reminder of how energizing it is to connect w/others passionate about prevention science + mental health. Grateful for this community!💡📚🧠 preventionresearch.org/2025-annual-...

Spotted @ #SPR2025! Our SMARTie Dr. Larissa Gaias presented yesterday on how families + educators experience culturally responsive teaching. Joined by Rachel Santiago, Courtney Newman & Katrina Debnam—an amazing team advancing equity in prevention science. Session: spr.confex.com/spr/spr2025/...

Critical Gaps in School Support After Shootings 🚨 Why do schools impacted by gun violence lose mental health staff? Watch this 1-minute breakdown of urgent research findings: ▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoAi... 👉 Watch. Share. Speak up. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

Our new research found that schools that experienced school shootings had fewer nurses, counselors & psychologists—but more police on campus. This highlights the need to invest in student support and mental health—not just security. #MentalHeatlhAwarenessMonth 🔗 Read the full study below:

How’s WA doing on #schoolmentalhealth ??📊🧠📚 The new WA Mental Health Report Card breaks it down—where we’re strong, where we’re falling short, and what needs to change. View snapshot below!🔗 www.inseparable.us/Washington-s... Let’s build a future where every student gets the support they need!💛

❤️‍🩹 1 in 5 youth had a major depressive episode last year— and over half didn’t get the help they needed. The 2025 School Mental Health Report Card reveals how states are supporting (or could improve) student mental health. Let’s push for stronger support in every school. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

Celebrating our second cohort of the Workforce for Student Well-Being Initiative! 🎓✨ These incredible individuals are strengthening & expanding the network of school #socialworkers in #Washington, supporting K-12 students when they need it most. Congrats to all! 👏 Learn more at: wswinitiative.org

WSW Retreat | Day 2 Recap A valuable day exploring anxiety care for students w/Dr. Nathanial Jungbluth, from Seattle Children's, who led impactful discussions & introduced FAST-A, an evidence-based, brief workbook-guided CBT program for schools. Learn more: www.seattlechildrens.org/healthcare-p...

The adolescent mental health crisis disproportionately affects youth of color. Our faculty member, Dr. Janine Jones, explores community-based solutions in The Aspen Institute’s latest report. Read her insights on p.111 & download the full report today! #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #MentalHealthEquity

Great conversation today (WSW retreat) exploring the complexities of special education decisions, w/valuable perspectives from both the school district & family. Big thanks to Tawni Barlow for bringing policy to life w/ real-world examples of IEPs, 504s, & IHPs etc. Let’s keep the dialogue going!💛

Our Workforce for Student Well-Being (WSW) retreat is underway! 🎉 Our second cohort is reflecting on their journey, guided by Rachel Barrett and Tawni Barlow in the "My why, your why" activity—closing this chapter and stepping into the future of #schoolmentalhealth. Stay tuned for more updates!

Congrats to Dr. Ericka Weathers & Dr. Kelly Harris—(our 2022 RIISE Fellows)—on being named William T. Grant Scholars Class of 2030! This program advances research & empowers early-career scholars. Their groundbreaking work will drive impact in education, youth health, & racial equity. Cheers!!!👏👏🎉

Last Friday, our 499 students presented their research @ the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium! Shou tout to students Jenny Speelmon & Jenna Sharp for their impactful studies on evidence-based practices in classrooms. Their work is advancing #schoolmentalhealth & implementation science—so proud!👏

🚨Federal funding cuts threaten school-based mental health, impacting students, educators, and programs like ours. Our efforts to strengthen the workforce and advance research are at risk. Read an important message from our Leadership and learn how you can help support our Center in the link below.

The Aspen Health Strategy Group’s new report urges action on youth #mentalhealth with 5 big ideas: prevention, access, quality, support, & technology. Former U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius calls for immediate societal commitment to evidence-based solutions & states the time to act is now.👇

Elementary schools with #PBIS teams—boost team meetings & student success! Join the Team-Initiated Problem-Solving Study. Schools earn up to $350 or a SWIS subscription, & more! Visit: blogs.uoregon.edu/tips/ Apply now: bit.ly/TIPS-PBIS-Ap... for Summer/Fall 2025 start. #DataDrivenDecisions

Honored to present WA State Rep. Lisa Callan w/the Legislative Champion Award from our 10th anniversary celebration! Perfect timing to recognize her leadership today at the #Washington State Mental Health Summit. Thank you for your advocacy & support of #schoolmentalhealth, Representative Callan!

Huge thanks to Todd Crooks from Chad’s Legacy Project for recognizing our Center & SMARTie Rayann Silva @ Washington State Mental Health Summit today!🙏 Rayann’s impactful work on mentalhealthinstruction.org is making a real difference. It means so much to have our efforts recognized by partners! 💛

We’re at the Washington State Mental Health Summit—let’s connect; collaboration drives change, & we’d love to chat! Join us at our table to talk about advancing school #mentalhealth! Virtual attendance is still open—register anytime during the event: www.wamhsummit.org #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

A heartfelt thank you to our SMARTie Jennifer Cohen and her family for courageously sharing their story. Their advocacy ensures #Washington families won’t face the same challenges they endured. Congratulations to you and all who worked tirelessly to get HB1432 passed! 💛 #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

SMARTie Jennifer Cohen celebrated today w/her son Jordan at the signing of HB1432, by #Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, which will require #mentalhealth parity. This caps off a three-year journey for her family in seeking changes in WA state law. View signing @45:50 (time): tvw.org/.../governor...

📣ESAs—your role in student well-being is vital! Join Asking is Caring, our online PESB-approved suicide prevention training on May 29, 9am–12pm. Led by experts Alita Crosby, LMFT & Rachel Barrett, LICSW— gain skills, strategies, earn a certificate & clock hours. Register today: bit.ly/AICTraining

With over 40% of school-aged children affected by chronic or mental health conditions, #schoolnurses play a vital role in improving attendance, reducing health disparities, & supporting student success. We are grateful for school nurses whose dedication ensures students thrive in health & learning.