TST BOCES, alongside regional education leaders and health institutions, has been awarded a major federal Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Part of the funding will directly support the TST BOCES School Health Systems (SHS) Service, a cooperative service that bridges the gap between public schools, pediatric providers, and community resources. Led by Medical Director Dr. Melissa Dhundale and Director of Preventative Health Services Jessica Hoff, PA-C, SHS is already embedded across six TST component districts, providing medical direction, health compliance oversight, and direct lines of communication between schools and local pediatric providers. This new federal grant will allow SHS to bring specialized substance use oversight, crisis prevention training, and direct referral pathways into participating schools.
The multi-year initiative represents up to $7.5 million in total funding over five years, beginning with a $1.5 million first-year award for the initial budget period from September 30, 2026, to September 29, 2027. Future-year funding is anticipated through September 29, 2031, subject to annual federal appropriations and standard grant compliance requirements. Dundee Central School District will serve as the lead administrative and fiscal agency, partnering with TST BOCES, the New York State Mental Health Alliance (NYSMHA), and the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) to expand student mental health support across an 11-district rural consortium. Together, the partners will serve 16,449 K–12 students across 36 school buildings in New York's Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions.
For TST BOCES, the grant directly supports districts already connected through the SHS network. This includes TST component districts Candor, Dryden, Groton, Lansing, Newfield, and South Seneca, as well as cross-contracted districts North Rose-Wolcott and Palmyra-Macedon. The grant also extends regional collaboration to partner districts Dundee, East Irondequoit, and Rush-Henrietta.
A primary initiative for the TST BOCES SHS team under Project AWARE is establishing a specialized, tiered referral system for youth substance use and early intervention. Working alongside a dedicated substance use physician specialist, TST BOCES SHS is developing pathways connecting school health teams directly with primary care providers. This gives school nurses, counselors, and pediatric providers clear, shared steps to catch early warning signs, support students struggling with substance use, and connect families to care before a crisis happens.
Across the five-year grant period, the project focuses on key efforts that directly impact daily school environments, including:
Expanding suicide prevention and crisis response: Equipping teachers, staff, and crisis teams with proven response training.
Expanding trauma-informed care: Training educators to recognize and support students dealing with severe stress or trauma.
Connecting schools and healthcare providers: Linking schools, mental health clinics, and regional doctors so families don't have to navigate local care alone.
Fostering positive school culture and resilience: Strengthening everyday mental health awareness and support across all school buildings.
Work under Project AWARE officially began on September 30, 2026, with initial efforts focused on aligning care protocols, onboarding regional partners, and setting up smooth referral paths across participating districts. Over the five-year grant period, the TST BOCES SHS team will work alongside district leaders to make these tools a seamless part of daily school operations, creating a reliable support network that schools can sustain for years to come.