Who We Are
The goal of the DC CoP is to advance a comprehensive school behavioral health system, a strategic collaboration between school personnel, community mental health providers, students, and families to create a positive school culture that provides timely access to high-quality, reliable supports for children, youth, and their families. Within this system, school-based teams offer a full array of trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, evidence-based tiered interventions to promote wellness, identify challenges early, and offer treatment services when necessary so that all children and youth succeed and thrive.
"We are a diverse community of people who share expertise and passion for the wellbeing of students, families, and school communities. Together, we model collaboration and build capacity to support school-based teams in engaging partners to create safe and supportive school environments, and implementing interdisciplinary practices that improve mental health and wellbeing.
As we move toward a thriving school community, we mobilize resources, ensure equitable access, align services, and promote culturally-responsive interventions within schools and across DC. We know we are having an impact when participating DCPS and DC Public Charter Schools demonstrate improvement on agreed upon outcomes (e.g., positive school climate; social emotional wellbeing; student, family and community engagement; and eliminating achievement gaps)."
The DC CoP shared vision was developed by members of the DC CoP beginning in November 2019 and finalized in May 2020. Thank you to the DC CoP members who contributed to the development of our shared vision. To learn more about the expansion of school behavioral health in DC, and the DC CoP's role, take a look at these brief introductory videos.
The DC CoP is supported by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, the District of Columbia Public Schools, the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, and CRP, Inc.