Colorado School Mental Health Support Program (SMHSP)
Help Your Students Rise to the Challenge
The School Mental Health Support Program (SMHSP) is a statewide initiative designed to strengthen mental wellness for students and educators, particularly in rural and underserved schools. Created through House Bill 24-1406 and funded by the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), SMHSP offers training, resources, and hands-on implementation support to help schools build sustainable, trauma-informed mental health systems.
Led by the Trauma-Responsive Implementation and Practice (TRIP) program housed at the Kempe Center, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus in partnership with the University of Denver Butler Institute for Families, and in collaboration with the BHA, SMHSP supports schools in aligning efforts with the Colorado Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. Our goal is to build inclusive, connected school communities where students and staff can thrive.
Benefits for Participating Schools
- Evidence-informed training in trauma-responsive practices, mental health literacy, and educator wellness
- Technical assistance and tools to apply strategies in the classroom, building, and district levels
- Peer collaboration through learning communities
- Tailored guidance through ongoing coaching, consultation and office hours from experienced facilitators
- Free CDE renewal hours
- Strengthened partnerships that support whole-school mental health
- Train-the-Trainer Model to promote long-term sustainability by developing in-house experts
Why Invest in School Mental Health and Well-Being
- Boosts student achievement and classroom focus
- Reduces disciplinary referrals and chronic absenteeism
- Supports educator retention and well-being
- Contributes to creating more inclusive and connected school environments
Available Topics
- Mental health and wellness
- Self-regulation and resiliency
- Trauma-informed practices
- Cultural responsiveness
- Mindfulness and cognitive behavioral skills
- Resources for managing suicide risk
- Educator wellness and addressing work-related stress
How It Aligns with Colorado MTSS
This framework ensures that SMHSP offerings meet the needs of all students and staff through universal (Tier 1), targeted (Tier 2), and individualized (Tier 3) supports. Many activities are intentionally designed to apply across tiers.
SMHSP serves, at no cost:
- Colorado schools serving grades 6 to 12, with an emphasis on rural and underserved schools
- Educators, school staff, and mental health professionals
- District and school leaders working to create safe, supportive, learning environments