91´ÎÔª

Rural and Indigenous School Based Mental Health and Empowerment (RAISE) Initiative

Imagine... 

Jesse, a 9th grader with high anxiety must travel two hours with her aunt just to access mental health care.  

Damon, a first grader, whose parents have experienced substance use and unstable housing, finds joy when reading with his teacher. 

April, an 11th grader who has had recent thoughts of suicide, draws strength through dancing in powwow and connecting with her culture. 

These youth are similar to many others living in rural and Indigenous communities, who struggle with mental health issues which impact their ability to be successful in school. Yet, it is unlikely that they have a full-time school psychologist who can support their mental health and learning due to the national shortage. 

The RAISE Initiative has a goal to provide support to youth just like Jesse, Damon, and April. The 91´ÎÔª (UM) School Psychology Graduate Training Program, led by Dr. Anisa Goforth, received a $3.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase the number of qualified school psychologists across Montana’s highest-need areas. The RAISE Initiative will provide specialized training to graduate students at UM, undergraduate students at Salish Kootenai College (SKC) and UM, high school students through Montana’s Digital Academy, and Montana school psychologists.

RAISE Opportunities & Funding

• Exposure: High school students will engage in interactive microlessons offered through the .
  
  
• Mentorship and Undergraduate Coursework: Two courses at UM and SKC will introduce undergraduates to school mental health through engaging assignments, seminars, job shadowing, supervision, peer-mentorship, and more. 
  
  
• Continual Professional Education: School Psychologists will receive free professional development opportunities such as training to be a graduate student supervisor.
  
  
• Specialized Graduate Training: RAISE will fund and train 3-cohorts of UM school psychology specialist students (RAISE Fellows) with the expectation that they will work in high-needs communities in Montana after graduating. RAISE Fellows will receive intensive training in evidence-based practices in school-based mental health (SBMH) assessment and intervention, particularly as these practices relate to rural and Indigenous students.   
  
  
• Interested in being a RAISE Fellow? First, apply to the UM Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) Program. After applying, there will be an opportunity to express interest in the RAISE Fellowship. If accepted and offered a fellowship, students will receive 3 semesters of free tuition, a graduate assistant stipend, scholarships, and specialized training. After two-years on campus at UM, fellows are expected to complete a one-year internship and two years of post-graduation employment at a high-need local educational agency in Montana.

Community Outreach

Salish Kootenai College

• Career Explorations Course
• Research Methods Course

91´ÎÔª

• Hoops & Horizons College and Career Fair, hosted by the Warrior Movement
• Native Griz Career Fair
• Psychology Club Graduate School Event

Researchers

• Anisa Goforth, PhD, ABPP, Principal Investigator (PI), Department of Psychology, 91´ÎÔª
• Greg Machek, PhD, Co-PI, Department of Psychology, 91´ÎÔª
• Jacqueline Brown, PhD, Co-PI, Department of Psychology, 91´ÎÔª
• Brianna Ewert, MA, Partner Consultant, Department of Psychology, Salish Kootenai College
• Gillian Wilcox, Project Coordinator, Doctoral Student, 91´ÎÔª
• Ana Grizoni-Elias, Student Researcher, Doctoral Student, 91´ÎÔª

Professional Presentations & Publications

Grizoni Elias, A., Wilcox, G., Goforth, A. N., Machek, G. & Brown, J. (under review), Increasing school psychology interest and knowledge to address workforce shortages [Poster]. Annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. Chicago, IL, USA.

Goforth, A. N., Wilcox, G., Grizoni Elias, A., Machek, G., & Brown, J. (under review), The workforce crisis: Innovative approaches for recruitment of school psychologists [Paper]. Annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. Chicago, IL, USA.