TRAILS

Since 2013, TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) has worked to increase delivery of evidence-based mental health services in schools by providing training, resources, and implementation support to teachers and school staff. Our mission is to increase equitable access to effective mental health care to students experiencing the highest mental health needs and disproportionate barriers to accessing services. We envision a future in which all young people have reliable and equitable access to effective, culturally responsible mental health care; and look forward to a day when every student can reach their full academic, social, and personal potential without being held back by the effects of an untreated mental health difficulty.

Our contribution toward realizing this future is to equip schools, especially schools in under-resourced settings, to make quality care accessible to all students, including those from historically excluded populations. TRAILS identifies students in Title I designated schools - schools in which youth from low-income families make up at least 40% of enrollment - as our broadest target population. Alongside this strategic priority, we also aim to positively impact student populations that are both at disproportionate risk of mental health concerns and that have historically been excluded from services. These include students of color (who are overrepresented in Title I schools), students living in immigrant family households, LGBTQIA+ students, and students experiencing homelessness.