The JED and AASA DMHI is a transformative two-year initiative developed by JED in partnership with AASA, The School Superintendents Association, and tailored to support district leaders as they improve their school mental health systems. As a leader in protecting student mental health and preventing suicide, our mission is to fully support you in making meaningful, sustainable, and measurable improvements in student well-being across your district.
Our Challenge:
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10 to 34.
- In 2023, 40% of U.S. high school students reported persistent sadness and hopelessness. In Texas the rate was 42%.
- 28% of people ages 18 to 25 in Texas had a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder in 2023-2024.
- Texas ranks 50 out of 51 (including D.C.) in the U.S. for access to insurance and mental health services.
- Younger people may be more likely to delay treatment seeking for mental health conditions, and when they do seek treatment they may have to wait weeks or months to get into services due to waitlists.
The need is urgent, and your leadership can make the difference.
Apply to Join the 2027 Texas Panhandle Cohort: Complete the form below to receive the official application for the JED and AASA District Mental Health Initiative.
The Opportunity for Region 16 Districts
Region 16 has partnered with JED and AASA to offer the Texas Panhandle District Mental Health Initiative (DMHI), a two-year, fully supported opportunity to strengthen your district’s school mental health systems.
- Full scholarships are available for 15 districts
- Cohort-based learning with peer collaboration
- Customized strategic support from JED and Region 16 experts
Selection timeline:
- September 15, 2026: Application opens
- September to December 2026: Rolling acceptance notifications
- February 1, 2027: Program start date
Instructions and requirements for the application process:
- Eligible districts are qualifying Region 16 public or charter school districts
- Districts must provide information for all required fields in the application, as well as any additional information requested by JED during the application process
- Recipients will be determined on a first-come, first-served rolling basis, subject to the discretion of JED and Region 16, as well as the availability of funds
For more information, contact:
The Jed Foundation (JED)
Chrysten Foley
Head of School Partnerships, PK-12
[email protected]
Region 16
Anne Marie Wartes, M.Ed.
School Safety Lead, CCMR/Advising
[email protected]
Region 16 Participating Districts Receive
JED provides a deep analysis of policies, programs, and perspectives from principals, staff, and students. Participating districts also receive a customized strategic plan, resources, and opportunities to collaborate on key school mental health and leadership topics important to Region 16 districts. Together, we help you make meaningful, sustainable, and measurable improvements in student well-being.
Fulfillment of Legislative Mandates for Texas School Districts
Curated and coordinated trainings and learning sessions throughout the program will support your district to complete requirements of the Texas-legislated mandates (HB8/SB11) for school mental health.
Comprehensive Assessment
JED’s comprehensive suite of assessments provide a data-driven analysis of your current system to understand your district’s strengths and areas of opportunity for quick improvements and long-term growth.
Policy Review
The team will evaluate existing district policies and protocols that support suicide prevention, mental health planning, and crisis planning and response. Our review will identify strengths and areas for improvement by comparing your current policies to recommended practices and Texas compliance requirements.
District Mental Health Resource System Inventory
Our team will help your district create a resource inventory of the programs, services, and supports currently available in your district to support student mental health and well-being, and suicide and substance misuse prevention. This resource map helps leaders visualize the distribution of support and resources, increase awareness of resource allocation, and evaluate for gaps.
Customized Feedback
Your district will receive a data analysis and report with detailed recommendations and visualizations to help you understand where you are, so you can better plan where you want to go. Combining multiple sources of data, these insights will help our team gain a deeper understanding of your district community through a data-informed lens that supports the strategic planning process.
Data-Informed District Mental Health Strategic Plans
Drawing on the assessment findings and customized feedback, our team will work with your district to create a strategic action plan that will serve as your road map for systemic change. The robust plan targets areas in each domain of JED’s Comprehensive Approach. Our team will guide your district to enhance what is already working and support innovation to address unmet needs.
Expert Insight and Technical Assistance
Our mental health and suicide prevention consultants are experienced professionals in school mental health and pre-K–12 education. They understand the challenges districts face today. Through expert insight, technical assistance, in-person site visits, and ongoing consulting services, your district will receive personalized support as you implement your strategic plan and develop your team’s capacity so you never have to do this work alone.
Measurable Outcomes and Lasting Impact
At the end of the program, JED will administer a post-assessment and provide a comprehensive report to reveal growth and continued opportunities for systemwide integration.
Ongoing Guidance and Curated Library of Recommended Practices
Our team is at the forefront of suicide prevention and school mental health. We help your district make informed decisions and enhance resources, policies, and programs with access to ongoing guidance from Region 16, JED, and AASA experts. JED’s extensive library of current research on clinically informed and peer-reviewed recommended practices, available only to our partners, also supports the district’s strategic work.
Postvention Support and Consultation
Our team of nationally recognized experts works to ensure your district is prepared to respond in the event of a suicide or other tragic event. In the event your district experiences a loss, our team provides postvention consulting to help navigate the aftermath in your community. Our support is customized to compassionately address your immediate needs, reduce the risks associated with exposure to suicide, and support your students and staff in healing.
Sustainability Plan
At your completion of the Texas Panhandle JED and AASA District Mental Health Initiative, your district will receive a detailed report about its progress in the program and the mental health and well-being of your district community, including data about students, leaders, and staff. As our intensive support winds down, we will ensure there is a sustainability plan in place to document successes and outline future steps to maintain and build on your progress.
Your Commitment
Districts join the initiative as a Texas Panhandle Region 16 cohort and work on the same program timeline with intentional opportunities to collaborate. A commitment to attendance and engagement ensures maximum impact and enhances the learning experience for all cohort members. Participating districts are expected to:
- Attend monthly cohort learning sessions (in-person or virtual) at Region 16
- Attend monthly individual district co-lead technical assistance and consultation calls (in-person or virtual)
- Attend quarterly Steering Committee meetings for individual districts (in-person or virtual)