Compassion Action e-News: February 2024

February 2024 | Volume 4, Number 2

Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools

The New England MHTTC School Mental Health Initiative is a SAMHSA-funded project that promotes holistic mental health supports for everyone in the school community. Through this initiative, public and private K-12 schools in New England gain access to evidence-based mental health resources to enhance school culture and prepare the school mental health workforce to extend trauma-skilled practices.

Our efforts are designed to help schools cultivate compassionate school communities that buffer against the negative effects of trauma, build resilience for all students, and provide stress-relief and enhanced well-being for teachers and other school personnel, as well as students.

News and Updates

Since 1976, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme. The 2024 Black History Month theme is, “African Americans and the Arts.” The theme encourages exploration into the key influence African Americans have had in the fields of “visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression” (National Museum of African American History and Culture, 2024). Read more.

Black History Month Resource Guide for Educators and Families

The Center for Racial Justice in Education—a national nonprofit organization dedicated to training and empowering educators to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice in our schools and communities—released a Black History Month Resource Guide for Educators and Familie s. The guide includes lesson plans and reading lists designed to center, honor, and uplift African Americans in school curricula every day.

Training and Technical Assistance

Register for school mental health training and technical assistance events in our Training and Events Calendar. Find additional school mental health resources in our Products and Resources Catalog, and reach out to the New England MHTTC for additional support throughout the school year!

Community of Practice Opportunities for New England Grantees

We are excited to offer all New England Project AWARE grantees an opportunity to participate in a regional Community of Practice (CoP).

Through monthly, one-hour sessions open to all staff from Project AWARE grantees in New England, CoP members can access technical assistance, share strategies and successes, receive peer support related to challenges, and participate in networking about their project.

If you are New England Project AWARE staff member, look for an email about the scheduling of our CoP and an invitation to join the "members-only" channel of our Groupsite platform.

Practical Guidance, Resources, and Community

How can young people be a part of the solution to increase awareness about the risks of fentanyl?

FentAlert: Empowering Youth for Safer Choices - SAMHSA Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge

Through this challenge, SAMHSA is seeking the best ideas from U.S. youth, aged 14-18, on a community strategy to increase youth awareness, education, and prevention around the dangers of fentanyl, especially the hidden dangers of fake pills and other contaminants that can lead to drug overdose deaths.

The top 6 ideas will be awarded a $5,000 prize each, and up to 25 youth will receive a $2,000 honorable mention prize.

Learn more and encourage youth participation.

The SAMHSA Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge ends on February 26, 2024 6 p.m. ET.

Video Library

Professional Development

Featured Collaboration

Community Builder

Communicate, Collaborate, Connect

The New England MHTTC School Mental Health Initiative is funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Stay Connected

Please distribute our resources to your contact list. We hope you encourage others to subscribe to the latest school mental health news in the New England region.