Mental Health Matters
WISD offers free, online workshops on a variety of mental health topics for Washtenaw County parents, caregivers, school staff, and adults who work with children. Our first workshop of the 2026-27 school year is Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.
We are excited to have UM child psychologist, Alejandra Arango, PhD provide us with practical tools for understanding and supporting youth experiencing depression, including how to recognize signs and understand suicide risk and prevention. We’ll also focus on the importance of connection and offer practical strategies for strengthening relationships with youth, navigating common barriers, and responding in ways that support their well-being.
Register here. Share this flyer with families and staff.
Mental health mini-grants, funded by the Washtenaw County Public Safety & Mental Health Preservation Millage, through WISD, are once again available to all public schools in Washtenaw County. Please review this important information (which includes a link to the application) before you apply. Only one application per school building or program. Apply soon before grant funds are fully expended!
💡Looking for some inspiration? 💡
If you're looking for some inspiration or have questions about the mini-grants, join our informal mini-grant idea showcase on Thursday, September 17 from 11:30-12:30. Register here for the zoom.
The WISD Bridge Clinical Team is an initiative to enhance mental health services for general education students in our local school districts, particularly within school settings.
Click the flyer on the right to learn more about our clinical social workers and mental health practitioners and how you can refer a student to our team. Questions? Contact bridgeteaminfo@washtenawisd.org.
WISD's Bridge Program is offering training in High Fidelity Wraparound October 6-8 in Ann Arbor.
This introductory course provides a foundation in the Wraparound process and its essential components. Participants learn to elicit and reframe the family story, identify functional strengths, develop vision statements, team missions, needs and outcomes, and create individualized plans of care and crisis plans through collaborative, family-driven practice.
Teachers, school social workers, counselors, psychologists, behavioral health providers, human service professionals, community members, and others who support youth and families are welcome. Space is limited. Register here bit.ly/4hGvmue or download the flyer here.
Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (CMH) recently released new resources for schools:
- What Happens When You Call the WCCMH Crisis Team? (a helpful flowchart)
- Talking to Children About Suicide: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
👉Upcoming Trainings 👈
CMH Crisis Training for School Staff -- Learn how and when to contact the 24/7 CMH Crisis Team, when to send a student to UM Psych Emergency Services, how to complete a Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and tips on safety planning.
Join the Washtenaw County Chapter of NAMI for their annual fundraising walk on October 17 from 12:00-3:30 at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. The route is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and dogs are welcome! Click here for more information or to register.
On August 18, TRAILS transitioned to an updated website with refreshed resources and materials. All legacy content is still available as well. Teachers, administrators, and school staff who have previously trained with TRAILS should have received an invitation to make their account on the new site. If you are having difficulty logging in, reach out to TRAILS at partnersupport@trailstowellness.org.
If you've never had an account with TRAILS, but would like access to their new, free self-paced training modules and materials for teachers, social workers, school support staff, and school leaders, reach out to your administrator or me at snovara@washtenawisd.org. Each school has a unique link for staff to use when creating a new account.
The Washtenaw Alive Suicide Prevention Coalition (WASPC) is dedicated to ending suicide in Washtenaw County through prevention, outreach, and awareness. They envision a hopeful, stigma free community that values mental wellness, advocacy, and belonging for all impacted by suicide. WASPC meets virtually every third Thursday at noon to connect, collaborate, and advance this mission together.
On September 23, at 6:00, WASPC is hosting an event called Bridging Generations: A Dialogue on Mental Health at Manchester Junior and Senior High School. Everyone is invited to attend and learn from an insightful panel of youth and seniors speaking about their experiences with mental health. At the end of the event, there will be a "Hope Wall" where folks attending can leave inspiring messages and advice for others. The event is free, but registration is appreciated.