West Virginia Expanded School Mental Health
Expanded School Mental Health (ESMH) is a multi-tiered system of support where schools, families, and strategic community partners work together to enhance student mental health in schools.
It is a framework that:
- includes the full continuum of prevention, early intervention, and mental health treatment
- serves all students
- builds upon core programs/services being provided by schools
- emphasizes shared responsibility between schools, mental health providers, and community partners
Schools who utilize the Expanded School Mental Health model will receive positive outcomes from the students such as:
Improved academic performance
Increased graduation rate
Improved school attendance
Improved school functioning/behavior
Improved social-emotional well-being
Reduced barriers to learning
In 2026, there are 80 funded Expanded School Mental Health schools. 71 sites are funded by WV DoHS Bureau for Behavioral Health and 9 sites are funded via WV Project AWARE SAMHSA grants. Additional sites are self-implementing via diversified funding to deliver a three-tiered system of supports.
News & Events
Below you will find information about current events and information from our monthly newsletter.
Evidenced Based Programs
WVESMH initiatives should use evidence-based programs whenever possible.