Manchester updates Project AWARE supports as board presses on attendance and scale

Stacy Champion, director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Behavior and Project AWARE, told the Board of School Committee on Oct. 14 that Project AWARE is a five-year, $7,600,000 federal grant entering year three that underpins the district’s effort to build systems for behavioral health, violence prevention and safe schools.

Champion said the work is organized by district-level teams — including mental health integration with Amaskig Health, a trauma-responsive and inclusive team, a violence-prevention team working with the Manchester Police Department, and a new staff-belonging and well-being group — and by 20 school-based Tier 1 teams that set schoolwide expectations, teach them and track outcomes. She said 18 of 20 school intervention teams are in place and community partners such as Elliott Hospital are providing staff training and supports.

The Empower/MPOWER campaign was built from 2023 YRBS data showing 58% of Manchester high school respondents reported they rarely or never got the help they needed for feeling “sad, empty, hopeless, angry, or anxious.” Champion said the campaign reduces stigma, promotes resilience, offers an anonymous reporting form, a…