This new pilot program with Center School District, Kansas City, Mo., launched in 2024 and will test a behavioral health preventative care model aimed to reduce the number of kids in mental health crisis. This first-of-its-kind shared decision-making collaborative was created after careful and intentional consideration of Center School District, which serves 2,700 students from pre-kindergarten to high school in their eight schools, and their specific needs, strengths and desires to improve access to behavioral health education and services in the school setting. The pilot program, in part, will incorporate education on and, implementation of, restorative practice training, providing students and staff with training in unique skills aimed at strengthening student-to-student and teacher-to-student relationships, increasing empathy and personal accountability, and fostering community.
