Supporting Student Mental Health in the New School Year: Resources for Connecticut Schools
As schools across Connecticut start the 2025-26 year, some educators may be concerned about how to continue supporting students’ mental health and well-being – especially in the current climate of budget uncertainty.
To help schools start the new school year ready to support their students, whatever the future may hold, we’ve compiled this list of free school mental health programs and resources, developed by CHDI, our partners, and colleagues from around the country:
Connecticut Resources
CONNECTing Schools to Care IV Students (CONNECT IV) | Connecting to Care
Connecticut schools don’t have to figure out mental health programming on their own. Through the federally funded CONNECT IV initiative, CHDI and our partners in Connecting to Care provide free technical assistance, training, and support to Connecticut K-12 schools and districts to help them assess, plan, and strengthen student mental health services and supports. Financial stipends are offered based on the level of participation. Currently recruiting schools and districts statewide to participate!
Mobile Crisis | State of Connecticut
Specialized mobile crisis intervention services are available statewide to assist children and youth experiencing behavioral health crises at school, at home, or in the community. Call 211 or 988 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to immediately reach a trained crisis counselor and get in-person crisis assistance to your location, typically in under an hour.
Learn more about Mobile Crisis
Connect4Families Toolkit | Connecting to Care
Connecting to Care partners developed this comprehensive toolkit to simplify access to behavioral health services and strengthen collaboration among families, pediatric and behavioral health providers, and schools. Includes an updated resource directory (including Connecticut and national resources), sample referral and communication forms, tips from providers, families, and youth, privacy considerations, and more.
Issue Brief: Restorative Practices in Schools | CHDI
A new state law (PA 23-167) effective this year requires Connecticut schools to respond to nonviolent school discipline incidents using restorative practices. Restorative practices are powerful alternatives to traditional disciplinary approaches that promote accountability, healing, and inclusion. Our 2025 issue brief provides practical guidance for implementing a restorative practices framework in school and district disciplinary approaches. Relevant for schools anywhere, but especially for CT schools working to meet new state requirements.
Evidence-Based Trauma Care in Schools | CHDI
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) is a school-based group intervention (for grades 5-12) that has been shown to reduce PTSD and depression symptoms and psychosocial dysfunction in children who have experienced trauma. Bounce Back is an adaptation of the CBITS model for elementary school students (grades K-5). With support from CT DCF, CHDI helps schools across the state implement CBITS and Bounce Back effectively.
Learn more about CBITS + Bounce Back
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Library | Connecting to Care
Variety of tools to help schools develop, implement, and evaluate plans to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate services for all students.
Family Preparedness Plan for Immigrant Families | State of Connecticut
A guide to help parents and families with undocumented members create a family preparedness plan to ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth in the event of separation. Excellent resource for schools to share with impacted families. Available in nine languages.
Get CT family preparedness guide
Legal Support for Children and Youth Impacted by Immigration Actions | CT Center for Children’s Advocacy
The Connecticut Center for Children's Advocacy (CCA) provides legal services and support for undocumented children as well as children impacted by their parents’ immigration status. This page offers a comprehensive resource list and informational webinar, and you can also learn how to refer students in need of CCA services.
Support for Students Experiencing Homelessness | State of Connecticut
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) manages an awareness campaign, “No matter what, school is for everyone,” to let students experiencing homelessness know they are still wanted and supported at school. The site also has tools and resources to help schools and districts support students and families without stable housing.
Several of the above resources are included in Connecting to Care's School Mental Health Resource Guide for Connecticut schools. Download and print the guide for quick reference this year!
Also, keep an eye out for a mental health kit being distributed to schools statewide this month by the Connecticut State Department of Education and Department of Children and Families.
Nationwide Resources
Trauma ScreenTIME Schools Course | CHDI
Trauma can have a major impact on a young person’s school performance and behavior. Trauma ScreenTIME is a free online course that teaches school staff best practices for screening children for trauma and helps them develop screening programs that fit their school or district's unique needs. Appropriate for ANY child-serving staff - not just clinicians - including teachers, paraprofessionals, school nurses, and school- and district-level administrators as well as school-based clinicians.
School Refusal Course | CHDI
This free online course, offered on CHDI’s Kids Mental Health Training platform, introduces learners to the four functional profiles of school refusal/avoidance and addresses common obstacles to school attendance, the use of behavior management strategies, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school attendance, and the importance of consultation with other professionals involved in a student’s care.
Register for School Refusal Course
Back to School Toolkit | SAMHSA
This toolkit from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) includes resources to help parents, caregivers, and educators talk to children about mental health and substance misuse, identify where additional support may be needed, and connect to care.
Creating Trauma-Informed Schools | National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
A collection of toolkits, webinars, fact sheets, activities, and other resources to help schools become more trauma-informed.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Schools | The Trevor Project
LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of suicide and behavioral health issues, and research shows this is primarily due to how they're treated by others. However, these rates are lower among youth with access to affirming spaces and communities. This resource from The Trevor Project provides tips on how teachers and school staff can support LGBTQ+ students and signal that you are a safe person to turn to for support. (Trevor Project also offers 24/7 crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth).
BIPOC Mental Health Resources | Mental Health America
This online BIPOC Mental Health Resource Center offers information and tools to highlight the unique experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities (and their impact on behavioral health) and empower and uplift young people of color.
View BIPOC mental health resources
School Resources | Mental Health America
A collection of general information, tools, and activities to help educators and staff learn about common youth mental health issues, support students, integrate social-emotional learning activities, foster a healthy school culture, create safe spaces, and more.
Note: While the two following CT-based programs are currently at capacity for the 2025-26 school year, we encourage you to learn more and reach out to CHDI if your school may be interested in participating in the future:
Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative | CHDI
Works with schools and districts to reduce the rate of in-school arrests, expulsions, and out-of-school suspensions.
Students Supporting Students | CHDI
A new school-based peer support model that trains and empowers students to provide accurate mental health information and support to their peers and encourage them to seek help from trusted adults. CHDI is continuing to pilot this model in four Connecticut schools this year; we hope to expand the program, funding permitting, in future years.