WE Program Training Manual For Culturally Responsive School-Based Mental Health Practices

An abundance of evidence suggests that K–12 Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) students experience disparities in school-based mental health services and negative school-based outcomes due to racism, discrimination, and biases. Such experiences have deleterious impact on their mental health, academic functioning, and other pre- and post-matriculation outcomes. These dynamics can lead to poor academic functioning and adverse mental health outcomes which can include depression, anxiety, toxic stress, decreased self-worth and self-esteem, and psychological maladjustment. School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) providers that are trained to be culturally responsive are uniquely situated to mitigate these negative events and ensure that BIPOC students have more positive outcomes and gain greater access to mental health services. They can do this by advocating for their needs, conducting culturally appropriate treatment, and providing recommendations to other school stakeholders about being culturally responsive. School-based mental health providers must receive proper training to be culturally responsive and facilitate appropriate and affirming support for this population. Based on a culturally responsive framework and theoretical foundations from Bronfenbrenner’s Socioecological Theory and Social Justice Theory, this manual recommends training SBMH providers to use a robust school-based culturally responsive mental health training program called the WE program that encompasses three main areas. Area one, “Pre-Work,” area two a “16-session culturally therapeutic model” based on CBT and Strength-based approaches, and area three “culturally responsive systemic school recommendations.” All three areas are designed to promote improvement to BIPOC students’ mental health and decrease their K–12 pre- and post-matriculation negative outcomes