If you care about kids' mental health, our monthly newsletter is for you!

📬 March's edition is out now.

➡️ Read it now and sign up for future editions to stay in the loop: https://loom.ly/q7mFacE

#ChildrensMentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #CTSchools #CTLeg #Connecticut

The whole community is showing up for students at Enlightenment School. As Principal Lauren Miele puts it: "It takes a village—and there is a village!"

📖 Read our newest #SchoolMentalHealth Spotlight to see the difference two years of #CONNECTIV has made: https://loom.ly/BN2dpTM

#CTSchools

📢 Now recruiting schools for the 2026-27 School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI)! Join 80+ #CTSchools transforming their approach to student behavior—keeping more kids in the classroom and out of the juvenile justice system: https://loom.ly/UpQ3ezk

#RestorativePractices #HelpNotHandcuffs

The CT School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) works with schools to reduce exclusionary discipline and increase access to care for students with behavioral health needs. Learn more: https://loom.ly/UpQ3ezk

#SchoolMentalHealth #RestorativePractices #CTSchools

Screenshot of Jeana Bracey's testimony on 2/17 from CT-N alongside her quote "SBDI was developed to address exclusionary discipline in Connecticut, and it has delivered. We are keeping kids in classrooms and improving staff's capacity to support student well-being by improving practice and policy."

This week, CHDI's Jeana Bracey urged CT legislators to restore full funding for the CT School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI), which works with schools statewide to reduce student arrests, suspensions, and expulsions. Watch here: https://loom.ly/Yb1KtDU

#CTPolicy #CTSchools #SchoolMentalHealth

Graphic with a quote from Jeana Bracey, CHDI Associate VP of School and Community Initiatives, as quoted in CT Insider article on 10/20/25, which reads, "Providing reliable, longer term funding to enable schools to really invest sustainably in high quality [mental health] services - that's always a need."

CHDI Associate VP of School + Community Initiatives Jeana Bracey was interviewed for an article published in today's CT Insider on challenges facing schools as federal funds for student mental health come to an end: https://loom.ly/VAfyMK4

#SchoolMentalHealth #CTBudget #CTSchools #CTPolicy

Supporting students in the new school year: Free Mental Health Programs and Resources for Connecticut Schools - New Blog post from CHDI

To kick off the 2025-26 school year, we've compiled this list of free mental health programs and resources for schools, developed by CHDI, our partners, and colleagues from around the country: https://loom.ly/nrIzPg0

#SchoolMentalHealth #CTSchools #EduSky

Don't miss our timely new Issue Brief, which provides helpful guidance for #CTSchools on implementing an evidence-based #RestorativePractices disciplinary framework, as required by Connecticut state law starting July 1: loom.ly/JND5ngo

#SchoolMentalHealth #RestorativeJustice

Connecticut Students Piloting CHDI Peer Support Model Show Their Work An update from the Students Supporting Students pilot project, including photos from activities planned by and for students.

When we listen to youth and involve them in developing mental health programming, it's a game-changer. That's one of the key takeaways from CHDI's first year piloting a new school-based #PeerSupport model with 4 #CTschools.

Read more about the pilot: loom.ly/GOHqBFg

#SchoolMentalHealth

CHDI's April 2025 Newsletter includes CHDI testimony on funding for CT behavioral health services; new survey findings from the CT behavioral health workforce; school mental health resources for 2025-26; ideas for Mental Health Awareness Month; a video on CHDI's quality improvement work; and introducing a new staff member. Read at the link in post or sign up at www.chdi.org

CHDI's April newsletter has landed in inboxes! Read it here: conta.cc/4iDq0g5

#BehavioralHealth #SchoolMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MHAM2025 #CTPolicy #Connecticut #CTSchools

CHDI's Sarah White + partners in the Connecting to Care initiative recently presented for @ctserc.bsky.social's Talk Tuesday series on opportunities for #CTSchools to strengthen mental health supports through the CONNECT IV initiative. Watch the recording:

#SchoolMentalHealth

Graphic with image of adult woman and school age girl steering a sailboat together with ocean and sunset in background. Text reads "New blog post: Helping Connecticut Schools Navigate the Changing Tides in Youth Mental Health. By Jeana Bracey, PhD, CHDI Associate VP of School and Community Initiatives."

In our latest blog post, CHDI's Jeana Bracey, PhD unpacks current challenges impacting #CTSchools, shares ways the state can bolster #SchoolMentalHealth efforts, and highlights resources available now to help schools and districts chart a course to calmer waters: bit.ly/413uDuc

BOE Asks for Another Iteration of the School Budget The latest school budget saves three jobs but still cuts eight full-time employees.

Already running a deficit in this year's budget, Stafford's schools look to find the balance between a budget the people will vote for and what the schools actually need.

#schoolbudget #ctschools #excesscosts #budgetseason #staffordct

www.staffordfreepress.com/post/boe-ask...

Budget Season Begins; Sobering Proposal from Schools As the budget season began, the town and the schools presented austere budgets.

Schools around the state face unfunded mandates and excess cost reimbursements that don't live up to their promises. The state is putting towns in a precarious position. #ctschools #schoolbudgets #ctstatebudget #educationcosts

www.staffordfreepress.com/post/budget-...

Legislative leaders signaled Monday their intent to bolster funding for #CTschools, assist municipalities with the growing need for special #education services, while enacting reforms to ensure state dollars are spent in #Connecticut classrooms.

Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/4jdG0H3