Hawaii

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in 2015. The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program falls under ESSA, subpart 1 of Title IV, Part A. The SSAE program is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; improve school conditions for student learning; and improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. States receive funds in the form of block grants and then fund local education agencies. To learn more, visit the T4PA Center website.

In 2019, the Hawai'i State Department of Education (HIDOE) received a School-Based Mental Health Services grant. This state is using this 5-year grant to increase the number of qualified (i.e., licensed, certified, well-trained, or credentialed, as defined in the notice inviting applications) mental health service providers that provide school-based mental health services to students in local educational agencies (LEAs) with demonstrated need. To find out more about this grant, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/05/28/2020-11388/applicat....

In 2019, the Hawai'i State Department of Education (HIDOE) received a Trauma Recovery Demonstration grant. HIDOE is using this 5-year grant to support model programs that enable a student from a low-income family (as defined in this notice) who has experienced trauma that negatively affects the student's educational experience to access the trauma-specific mental-health services from the provider that best meets the student's needs. The parent (as defined in this notice) of such a student from a low-income family may request services on behalf of the student. To find out more about this program, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/05/2019-14408/applications-for-new-awards-trauma-recovery-demonstration-grant-program.

In 2014, the Hawai'i State Department of Education (HIDOE) received a Project AWARE grant through the Now is the Time initiative. HIDOE used this 5-year grant to 1) train adults on responding to mental health issues when interacting with school-aged youth, 2) connect children, youth and families who required support to appropriate mental health services, and 3) implement Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid in State and local training programs. For more information about this grant, go to: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sm-21-006.

In 2014, the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) received a School Climate Transformation grant. With this 5-year grant, HIDOE developed state-wide support systems and provided technical assistance to schools on implementing evidence-based multi-tiered behavioral frameworks. The primary goal was to improve behavioral outcomes and learning conditions for all students. To find out more about this grant go to: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/schoolclimatelea/index.html.