The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE),
School Health Services office is pleased to announce the 2022 Arkansas AWARE
Mini-Grant Project Request for Applications (RFA). The Arkansas AWARE program
is intended to support public schools with the implementation of direct mental
health services, mental health awareness, and trauma-informed practices. This
special grant opportunity is supported with funding provided to DESE through
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
RFA-SM-18-006 AWARE (Advancing Wellness And Resiliency in Education) State
Education Agency Grant.
All Arkansas public school districts are eligible to apply for
grant funding up to $10,000 to provide direct mental health services, promote
school mental health awareness, or implement trauma informed programming.
As a requirement of the application process, districts must
complete the Bronze Level School Mental Health Profile within the School Health
Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE) system. The district will need to
create a district level login and complete the following sections of the School
Mental Health Profile: Students Served and Data Systems, Staffing, and Services
and Supports. (https://theshapesystem.com/). The Bronze Level SHAPE
Certificate of Completion should be included with the application packet
submission.
The 2022 Arkansas AWARE Mini-Grant Project guidelines,
application template, and budget narrative forms are attached to this
commissioner’s memo. Applications will be awarded based on technical merit on a
first come, first served basis.
Districts should submit completed applications as a single PDF
file to Elizabeth.Kindall@ade.arkansas.gov. Applications will be
accepted through Wednesday, December 1, 2021, or until funds are
depleted.
An online technical assistance grant writing webinar will be
held on Thursday, November 4th at 11 a.m. via the following Zoom
link: https://zoom.us/j/96674344955?pwd=M2N6RFFJWG5ORUNFMWhZMDBNeDNpdz09 . Registration for this
event is not required.