On this page, find resources and strategies for implementing a systems-level approach to student well-being, early intervention, tiered supports, and more.
Read about how Rhode Island supports opportunities for school district collaboration in support of student well-being.
Student emotional well-being starts with understanding the whole spectrum of supports – from universal to targeted to treatment. At its heart, it’s about creating a school environment where every student feels safe, valued, and able to cope with life’s ups and downs.
This approach combines school-wide strategies that support all students with individualized services for those who need extra help. Together, these supports develop emotional intelligence, build resilience, and respond to challenges as they arise. This approach means every student, not just some, has access to the tools, relationships, and support to thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
Find information about understanding different school-based frameworks and how alignment can support a broader picture in the Aligning Frameworks section of our resource library.
https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health-action-guide/media/pdfs/DASH_MH_Action_Guide_508.pdf
This action guide describes six in-school strategies that are proven to promote and support mental health and well-being. For each strategy, the guide also describes approaches, or specific ways to put the strategy into action, and examples of evidence-based policies, programs, and practices.
This report was developed to summarize the evidence to support mental health best practices in schools. It covers frameworks, evidence-based programs, and more.
Universal supports are designed to reach every student, providing a foundation of mental health education, awareness, and prevention strategies to promote well-being across the entire school population. These supports aim to create a positive environment that nurtures students’ emotional and social skills and serves as a foundation for prevention and early intervention. This could include:
https://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/media/som/microsites/ncsmh/documents/quality-guides/Tier-1.pdf
This guide provides background information, strategy recommendations, best practices, examples from the field, and more for health promotion and tier 1 services and supports.
Universal screening is a proactive way to check in on all students, like taking a temperature to see if something is off. It gives a broad view of who may be struggling with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues that aren’t visible.
Find information and resources about screening in the Data-Driven Decision-Making section of our resource library.
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This workbook is designed to help school teams plan, implement, and track both universal mental health screening and broader school health assessments. It guides teams through key decision points, timelines, and follow-up steps, and each tab provides structured space for collaboration, documentation, and accountability, making it easier to stay organized and aligned throughout the process.
https://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/media/som/microsites/ncsmh/documents/quality-guides/Screening.pdf
This guide provides background information, strategy recommendations, best practices, examples from the field, and more for mental health screening and assessment in schools.
Social-emotional learning equips students with the skills needed to name and respond to emotions, strengthen their sense of connectedness, form and nurture healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions for themselves and in support of others.
https://schoolguide.casel.org/
This comprehensive guide equips school administrators and staff with the information, resources, and tools needed for systems-level implementation of SEL.
A resource hub for research, information, strategies, and examples from districts across the country for effective SEL integration and implementation
https://signaturepractices.casel.org/
Three evidence-based practices that serve as an on-ramp for integrating SEL into daily practices that foster collaborative and supportive learning and working.
Mental health literacy supports students in understanding how to care for their minds, recognize signs of mental health conditions, and how to treat them, and let go of the shame often linked to these issues.
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Information, strategies, considerations, and example programming to support mental health literacy in schools.
https://www.themhlc.org/resources
This organization has several resources to promote mental health literacy, including an advocacy toolkit, low-cost trainings, and opportunities to network with others working on promoting mental health education.
(Mental Health Instruction) Mental Health Literacy Programs: This resource library highlights high-quality mental health education curricula, tools, and other resources for educators focused on mental health literacy.
(Mental Health Technology Transfer Network) Classroom WISE – Well-Being Information and Strategies for Educators: Classroom WISE is a no-cost 3-part training package that assists K-12 educators and school staff in supporting the mental health of students in the classroom.
A safe and supportive school environment, where everyone feels welcomed and connected, gives students a space to grow, play, and learn, creates the conditions for students to build confidence, form positive relationships, and develop the skills they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
https://www.cdc.gov/youth-behavior/school-connectedness/index.html
School connectedness reflects students’ belief that peers and adults in the school support, value, and care about their individual well-being as well as their academic progress. It is an important protective factor that promotes the health and well-being of students. This webpage provides data and best practices to promote school connectedness.
https://action4connection.org/
An interactive tool for building knowledge of social connection, assessing the condition of social connection in your context, and convening a team to advance meaningful actions towards fostering connection.
(National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments) School Climate Resource Package: This package includes resources for schools and school districts to support improving school climate.
(National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments) Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package: The Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package offers school and district administrators and staff a framework and roadmap for adopting a trauma-sensitive approach school- or district-wide.
(EdResearch for Action) Strengthening School Connectedness to Increase Student Success: This report summarizes research on the value of school connectedness and provides evidence-based strategies for schools to build within their own communities.
Tiered supports introduce additional layers of intervention that are progressively more intensive, based on the specific needs of students. Tiered supports typically include targeted support for students who show signs of struggling and intensive support for those with significant mental health challenges. This approach ensures that while every student benefits from a baseline level of support, those who need more specialized or intensive help receive it in a timely and effective manner. This could include:
Find information and resources for identifying evidence-based clearinghouses and interventions that meet your needs in the Effective Implementation section of our resource library.
This guide provides background information, strategy recommendations, best practices, examples from the field, and more for early intervention, treatment, and tier 2 and 3 services and supports.
(American School Counselor Association) The School Counselor and Student Mental Health: Collection of research, resources, and reports on the impact of school counseling on student well-being.
(Institute of Educational Sciences) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and the Importance of Promoting Student Well-being: A fact sheet that highlights examples of using Tier 1, 2 and 3 approaches to support student mental health and well-being.
(National Wraparound Initiative) Wraparound Basics or What Is Wraparound – An Introduction: Introductory information on wraparound services, including videos, resources, and more.
For questions or more information, connect with us.
Heidi Milby, MPH
Associate Director, Center for Advancing Healthy Communities
hmilby@chronicdisease.org