$1.79M Annually, $7.2M Total – The Largest Competitive Partnership Grant Award in the History of the Mississippi Achievement School District
AWARE MS is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) with the US Department of Human Services.
AWARE MS is a Partnership Grant between The Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Achievement School District, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Families as Allies, University of Mississippi Medical Center (Lead Partner and Grantee), Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and other community agencies. Each of these agencies will work in partnership with the Mississippi Achievement School District over the next four years to build systems and implement frameworks which address social emotional learning, suicide and violence prevention, mental health awareness, crisis response, and trauma-informed activities and services.
The AWARE grant will provide a licensed behavior specialist to both the Humphreys County School District and Yazoo City Municipal School District for the duration of the grant. Both districts will also have access to training, resources, and the expertise of leading professionals across the State of Mississippi in the areas of Social Emotional Learning, Mental Health Services, Psychology, and Family Advocacy. Implementation efforts will positively impact the students, staff, parents, and community stakeholders of Humphreys County and Yazoo City, and will aim to establish a replicable model for school-based mental health services in additional Mississippi schools.
In December of 2024, the grant will be up for a 3 year renewal of $1.79M each year. All expenditures will support the goals and objectives of the AWARE Grant in service to the Mississippi Achievement School District.