The School-Based Mental Health Training Institute (SBMHTI) is a U.S. Department of Education grant-funded training institute to promote mental health prevention and intervention, including advocating for historically marginalized populations. In an effort to increase the capacity of credentialed mental health service providers within schools, the Professional Counseling Masters Program and the Social Work Masters Program received a 4.9-million-dollar grant through the U.S. Department of Education.
We provide:
• Mental Health Services to Woodland Hills School District students.
• A Graduate-Level Training Program for Counseling and Social Work students and professionals
• School-Based Field placements for the Counseling and Social Work students
• Trainings for Woodland Hills School Districts and the surrounding communities
The focus of this grant is twofold:
- To increase access to school-based mental health services.
- To strengthen the pipeline of mental health professionals into high need school districts
Prior to the pandemic, the number of adolescents who are reporting poor mental health was increasing, post pandemic we are at a critical point, with more than 1 in 3 students indicating distress. Culturally competent, school-based mental health services are designed to help students access needed care during the school day, removing barriers such as transportation, scheduling conflicts, and stigma.
Why is this a big deal?
Poor mental health can affect many areas in a child’s or adolescent’s life. Poor mental health can impact grades, peer relationships, and home life. Helping kids and teens establish positive mental health is critical.
The good news!
Kids and teens are resilient, and we know what works to support their mental health. The Carlow Counseling Clinic (CCC) will focus on prevention, intervention, and wellness as a way to support the mental health of all students and staff at Woodland Hills School District. The Family Engagement Specialist (FES) will develop community collaborations; promote sharing of power with parents and decision-makers; help parents understand the educational system so they can become better advocates for their children’s education; and promote mental wellbeing across the lifespan by increasing awareness of mental health and promoting well-being.
Carlow Programs that support this grant
Kids and teens are resilient, and we know what works to support their mental health. The Carlow Counseling Clinic (CCC) will focus on prevention, intervention, and wellness as a way to support the mental health of all students and staff at Woodland Hills School District. The Family Engagement Specialist (FES) will develop community collaborations; promote sharing of power with parents and decision-makers; help parents understand the educational system so they can become better advocates for their children’s education; and promote mental wellbeing across the lifespan by increasing awareness of mental health and promoting well-being.
The Masters of Art (MA) in Social Work program offers a school social work certificate that prepares social workers to work with individuals, families, and groups in schools and school-based settings. The school social work curriculum is grounded in the person-in-the-environment framework, trauma-informed approaches, human rights, and social and economic justice. Those who complete this program are eligible for Pennsylvania’s school social work certificate and prepared for careers within schools and across larger educational systems, as well as for policy practice as it related to public and private preschool, elementary, and secondary schools.
Learn More about the Social Work Program
The Masters of Science (MS) in Professional Counseling program prepares graduate-level students for careers in the counseling profession. The program provides the education and training required for those pursuing licensure as professional counselors in the state of Pennsylvania (i.e., LPC). The program emphasizes a developmental focus across the lifespan, ethical practice, applied scholarship to clinical work, and cultivates respect for the uniqueness of all individuals. Grounded in the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy humanitarian works, the program emphasizes social justice, inclusion, and advocacy within counseling.
Learn More about the Professional Counseling Program
