Agawam schools outline mental-health partnership, new tiered supports and strengthened threat-assessment teams

Superintendent Martin told the Agawam School Committee on Feb. 13 that the district has begun a multi-year partnership with Boston Children's Hospital and state agencies to pilot a school‑based behavioral‑health model and expand telehealth access for students.

The district's social‑emotional learning director, De Jesus, said the pilot — funded by the state and coordinated with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health — will focus on tiered supports, building staff capacity and creating referral pathways to community resources. "When students feel welcome and connected to their school communities, they have improved mental health, improved academic outcomes and behavioral outcomes, and they're less likely to engage in high‑risk activities," De Jesus said.

The program will work through the district's multi‑tiered system of supports: universal Tier 1 services for all students, targeted Tier 2 interventions for small groups, and…