The Resilient Response to the Effects of Stress and Trauma ( REST) Program is a Journey Mental Health Center program for youth in Dane County that partners with schools and community mental health agencies to build resiliency and promote recovery for youth impacted by stress and trauma. The program identifies students needing mental health support, connects them to appropriate school or community-based intervention(s), and increases schools’ capacities to support students impacted by stress and trauma.
The REST Program involves universal screening in all MMSD middle and high schools where students at one grade level answer a series of questions relating to emotional functioning, trauma exposure, and trauma reactions or “PTSD symptoms.” Students are then identified for the CBITS intervention group or other social/emotional interventions (anxiety/depression, grief and loss, family change, etc.) as needed.
Through the REST Program, students affected by traumatic stress are invited to participate in a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) group. Using an equity-centered and resilience-focused approach, CBITS aims to increase coping skills and reduce symptoms of traumatic stress for students in middle and high school. Community service providers (therapists) deliver the CBITS intervention in our schools, in collaboration with school-based student services staff. CBITS is a 10-week group intervention and includes parent communications, teacher updates, and small-group/individual sessions with students.
CBITS is offered at no cost to selected students. Referrals are made through building-level Student Services Teams and require parent/guardian consent.
For more information contact: Carrie M Klein, School Mental Health Coach, or Kristen Guetschow, Director of Mental Health.