Reading Public Schools Awarded Two-Year Federal Grant From Project AWARE

Reading Public Schools have been awarded a two-year Project AWARE grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support the training of school personnel and other adults who interact with youth in both school settings and communities to detect and respond to mental illness in children and youth in the town of Reading.

Individuals will be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, a course that teaches participants how to help youth who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training helps them identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

“When a loved one has a physical illness like cancer, families rally around to
cook, clean, drive their loved ones to doctor’s appointments, and much more,
but when someone is struggling with substance abuse, depression, anxiety, trauma, or other mental conditions, family members are not sure what to do,” said Erica McNamara, Project AWARE & RCASA Director.

The trainings will greatly improve early identification of mental health needs and increase
referrals to local community agencies. Erica McNamara will serve as the grant coordinator organizing training, monitoring certification, enhancing pathways to mental health referral, and supporting, recommended mental health assessment and/or treatment.

To execute the grant work plan, the Reading School Department will involve RCASA, police, dispatch, and town departments. Community partners will include the Burbank YMCA, faith leaders, and parents.

The grant award was made possible through the collaborative input of the Behavioral Task Force and Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse. For more information on Reading’s Project AWARE grant, programs, and services, Erica McNamara at 784-942-6793 or via email at emcnamara@ci.reading.ma.us.

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