West Virginia

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 2014, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) received a Project AWARE grant through the Now is the Time initiative. WVDE 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 2010, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) received a Safe Supportive Schools grant. WVDE used this 4-year grant to implement a measurement system in participating local education agencies to improve conditions for learning. Schools and districts used valid and reliable data to drive research-based prevention and intervention strategies to reduce behaviors that present barriers for learning among high-risk students, such as substance use and aggression. The comprehensive profile (15 pages) and brief snapshot (3 pages) describe the goals of the grant, participating districts, key operational partners, primary interventions and other implementation activities, outcome data, lessons learned, and plans for sustainability. In addition to the cross-grantee Executive Summary, a longer study document is available upon request (contact NCSSLE@air.org). To find out more about this grant, go to: https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/state-grantees/safe-and-supportive-school-s3-grants.

In 2022, Troy University, Alabama State University, and Auburn University received a Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grant. These universities are using this 5-year grant to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health services providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies (LEAs). The goal of this program is to expand the pipeline of high-quality, trained providers to address the shortages of mental health service professionals in schools served by high-need LEAs. To find out more about this program, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/28/2022-25824/applications-for-new-awards-mental-health-service-professional-demonstration-grant-program.

In 2023, the University of Alabama received a Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grant. This university is using this 5-year grant to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health services providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies (LEAs). The goal of this program is to expand the pipeline of high-quality, trained providers to address the shortages of mental health service professionals in schools served by high-need LEAs. To find out more about this program, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/28/2022-25824/applications-for-new-awards-mental-health-service-professional-demonstration-grant-program