Project AWARE stands for Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education. It is a federal grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that helps schools build stronger, more comprehensive systems of mental health support.

Through Project AWARE, Grandview School District will focus on three key areas:

• Prevention
• Early Identification
• Connection to Support
   

Each year we see our students struggle with issues related to mental health, anxiety, depression, belonging, just to name a few. As hard as our staff are working, we need to do better and we need more resources to help us get better.

Grandview SD does not receive adequate funding to create and maintain the type of mental health program our students desperately need.

This grant lets us build a consistent system in all our schools so no student falls through the cracks, a system that is designed to continue after the grant funding runs out.

Grandview School District was awarded $7.5 million over five years through Project AWARE.

$1.5 million per year
Funding will be provided annually for five years.

Year 1: September 30, 2026–September 29, 2027

Grant Period: September 2026–September 2031

SAMHSA planned to award approximately 31 Project AWARE grants nationwide, with only three awards in Washington State.

Grandview School District was selected as one of those recipients, along with our neighboring district, Toppenish School District.

About three-quarters of the annual Project AWARE funding will support people — new staff who work directly with students and families. The remaining funds will support training, program materials, independent evaluation, family outreach, and other costs necessary to carry out the grant.

Year 1 Funding: September 30, 2026–September 29, 2027

The largest investment is in staffing, with approximately $1.1 million in Year 1 supporting salaries and benefits for new positions serving students and families.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
Project Director — 1.0 Position
Leads the grant, chairs the advisory board, and manages community partnerships.
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
Project Manager — 1.0 Position
Manages the day-to-day implementation of Project AWARE within our schools.
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
School Mental Health Coordinators — 5.0 Positions
Licensed clinicians who screen students, provide brief intervention, and connect students and families with appropriate services and referrals.
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
Data & Administrative Assistant — 0.5 Position
Supports data entry, scheduling, and required federal reporting.
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

**The number and type of positions have not yet been finalized and are subject to change.

Yes. Federal grant rules place restrictions on how Project AWARE funding can be used.

Food or Cash Incentives
Grant funds cannot be used to purchase food or provide cash incentives.

Existing District-Funded Services
Project AWARE must add new supports and services. Grant funding cannot replace programs, positions, or services already funded by Grandview School District.

$0 Local Cost 

No. There are zero out-of-pocket costs to the district or our community.

The Project AWARE grant provides $1.5 million each year for five years and covers the full cost of the program, including:

Salaries & Benefits
Grant-funded staff positions and required employment benefits.

Training & Materials
Staff training, program materials, curriculum, and other resources.

Evaluation & Administration
Required program evaluation and the district’s administrative costs to manage the grant.

No levy or general fund dollars are needed to operate the program.

School-based Project AWARE services are free to families.

AT SCHOOL — NO COST TO FAMILIES
Prevention programs, screening, and support provided through Project AWARE at school are available at no cost to families.

COMMUNITY-BASED CARE
If a student is referred to a community provider for ongoing care outside of school, those services are billed to Medicaid or the family’s insurance, just as they are today.

No. Project AWARE funding is additional federal funding specifically awarded to expand mental health and wellness supports.

Federal grant rules require Project AWARE funds to add new supports and services on top of what the district already provides. The funding cannot be used to replace existing district-funded programs, positions, or services.

Sustainability is being planned from day one. Project AWARE is designed to build systems, partnerships, and capacity that can continue beyond the five-year grant period.

SUSTAINABLE FUNDING
The district will explore Medicaid billing for eligible school-based services to help support services beyond the grant.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Formal partnerships with community providers will help strengthen connections to services and resources for students and families.

LONG-TERM LEADERSHIP
A standing advisory board will help continue collaboration and guide this work beyond the grant period.

IN-HOUSE TRAINING
The district will develop its own trained staff so key training can continue without relying on outside trainers.

GRANT-FUNDED POSITIONS
Positions created through Project AWARE are funded by the grant. The district will evaluate sustainability and funding options for these positions well before the grant ends in 2031.

Student support will be organized into three levels, helping ensure students receive the right level of support based on their needs.

FOR EVERY STUDENT
Prevention & Wellness

Prevention and wellness lessons will be available across our schools, including the Sources of Strength peer program and suicide-awareness training for students in grades 6–12.

FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED MORE SUPPORT
Early Identification & Intervention

Students will have access to voluntary screening at grade-level checkpoints, a support team within each school, and brief one-on-one support from licensed clinicians.

FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED INTENSIVE SUPPORT
Connection to Community Services

Students who need additional services will receive a direct, tracked connection to community providers, such as Comprehensive Healthcare, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, and Catholic Charities.

Hiring, training, and community partnerships will begin Fall 2026, with student services rolling out during the 2026–27 school year.

FALL 2026
Building the Foundation
Hiring, staff training, and community partnerships begin.

SPRING 2027
Services Begin
Project AWARE services begin rolling out in schools.

BY THE END OF THE 2026–27 SCHOOL YEAR
All Schools
Project AWARE services will be in place across all Grandview School District schools.

Yes. Families are an important part of this work.

Parent Consent
Screening and individual services require parent/guardian consent.

Family Involvement
Families will be informed and involved in decisions regarding their child’s care and support.

Bilingual Communication
Family outreach, information, and materials will be available in both English and Spanish.

A districtwide family awareness campaign will provide information and guidance on healthy and safe technology use at home.No. A student’s well-being does not stop at the final bell.

Project AWARE helps build a network of support that reaches students and families at school, at home, and throughout the community.

Yes. Family and community voices will help guide Project AWARE through a Community Advisory Board.

WHO WILL HAVE A SEAT?
The advisory board will include representation from:

• A parent or caregiver
• A youth representative
• City of Grandview
• Grandview Police Department
• State partners

WHEN WILL IT BEGIN?
The Community Advisory Board will be established by Spring 2027.

HOW OFTEN WILL IT MEET?
The board will meet at least four times each year to help provide input and guidance as Project AWARE is implemented.

Project AWARE’s progress will be measured against clear goals and yearly targets.

An independent evaluator, RGI Research Corporation, will track results and report required data to the federal government. This includes progress toward goals such as students reached, screenings completed, staff and community members trained, timely connections to services, and school support systems in place.

The district will also share progress with staff, families, and the community each year.

Project AWARE positions will begin posting in October 2026 through Grandview School District’s Human Resources office.

Positions will be posted as they become available. Those interested in joining the Project AWARE team are encouraged to check the district’s employment webpage and follow district social media for new opportunities.

For questions about Project AWARE, please contact the Grandview School District Superintendent’s Office. (509)882-8500

The Superintendent’s Office will oversee the grant until the Project Director is hired. Once that position is filled, updated contact information will be provided.