About
About Us
Childhood and adolescence are formative times characterized by many changes and influenced by a variety of factors. It is critical to promote and enhance resilience in our youth in order to support healthy adult development.
Over half of mental health concerns begin by age 14, and we have seen an increase in mental health concerns both locally and globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Providing preventative services and early intervention for mental health concerns has been shown to improve outcomes for children, adolescents, and families.
Our school and community is committed to supporting student wellness by providing comprehensive school supports, increasing access to mental health services, and working to address the stigma that is still associated with mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Project AWARE
The School District of La Crosse was identified as a worthy recipient for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) Project AWARE State Education Agency grant. The Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education (AWARE) grant program expands the District’s capacity to:
- Increase awareness of mental health issues among school-age youth.
- Train school personnel and other adults who interact with school-age youth so they can detect and respond to mental health issues.
- Connect students, staff, and families who may experience mental health concerns with appropriate services in school and community settings.
- Expanding the collaboration efforts between school staff and mental health providers while promoting consistent utilization of effective approaches and increasing positive outcomes in the community and schools for La Crosse School District students.
The Project AWARE Core Team:
Tracy Caravella, Grant Coordinator
Curt Teff, Director of Community Services
Aimee Zabrowski, Director of Student Services