Detroit Schools-TRAILS Partnership Supports Student Mental and Behavioral Health
Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is laser-focused on the mental health of its students. Since 2020, through a partnership with TRAILS, school-based staff at DPSCD have provided evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness sessions to help students manage common mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, worried thoughts and avoidant behaviors.
TRAILS is an acronym for “Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students,” and was established initially through funding from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, along with other organizations and philanthropic foundations.
A 2018 comprehensive needs assessment netted responses from 3,000 DPSCD staff and more than 12,000 students, according to Alycia Meriweather, Deputy Superintendent at DPSCD. TRAILS CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and Mindfulness is designed to be delivered by school behavioral health professionals, including school counselors, social workers and psychologists.
Since launching, TRAILS has grown. At the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic, TRAILS responded by developing a group manual to be delivered virtually by school staff. TRAILS and DPSCD also collaborated with Children’s Hospital of Michigan and New Oakland Family Services to establish a suicide risk assessment and protocol tool and a confidential two-way communication loop.
“This protocol serves as a communication tool for external providers, school staff and families to better understand students’ needs, while keeping schools up to date about the students they refer for support,” Meriweather explains.
In the 2023-2024 school year, nearly 1,000 students at DPSCD participated in the CBT and Mindfulness program, either in groups or individually, Meriweather reports.
Currently, DPSCD and TRAILS are evaluating the overall effectiveness of the CBT and Mindfulness program through a randomized controlled trial that assesses student mental health and academic achievement outcomes.
When they participate in the CBT and Mindfulness programs, students develop valuable skills they can use across the lifespan. To date, 94 school-based staff have been trained in the program.
In addition to TRAILS, DPSCD supports student well-being with counselors and/or social workers at every school. DPSCD also partners with community based organizations to provide behavioral health services to various groups of students: whole school, small groups and individuals.
Why the start of the school year matters to student mental health
The start of the school year is significant for student well-being, says Dr. Angelita Jacobs, Executive Director, Whole Child Support at DPSCD.
“Transitioning from a less structured environment back to a more structured school setting in the fall can positively impact the behavioral/mental health of students by providing a sense of security through established routines, decreased anxiety with planned activities, increased positive engagement with others, personalized attention from teachers and school staff, and access to additional supports and resources,” she says, adding that all of these elements can enhance overall well-being for students.
Through proactive strategies and interventions, teachers, staff and administrators at DPSCD attend to the social, emotional, psychological, physical and academic development of students, Jacobs says.
These strategies foster “prosocial behaviors which contribute to a climate and culture where students feel valued, respected and connected to their peers and school,” she says.
“Access to supportive behavioral/mental health services through community partners allows students to receive additional assistance in a convenient, familiar environment. By intentionally addressing mental health — which is a foundational part of overall behavioral health — students are being further equipped to thrive personally and academically.”
Learn more about Detroit Public Schools Community District at detroitk12.org/families.
