Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know more about TRAILS? Whether you’re an educator, mental health provider, or member of the community, you’ll find helpful information below.
TRAILS Programs
What age groups are TRAILS programs designed to serve?
TRAILS Social and Emotional Learning serves students in grades K-12. TRAILS Tier 2 offerings, including both the CBT and Mindfulness and the Coping with COVID-19 programs, serve grades 3-12. TRAILS Suicide Prevention and Risk Management supports school leaders in implementing effective suicide prevention policies that serve students of all ages.
My school already has a program in place that corresponds to one of the tiers at TRAILS. Can we still implement TRAILS programming at a different tier?
Yes! We welcome our school partners to select the programming that best meets their needs. While all TRAILS programs are aligned in a common language and set of core best practices, each may be delivered independently, or in tandem with comparable programs offered elsewhere.
What role do TRAILS Coaches play?
TRAILS Coaches are mental health providers who are committed to promoting evidence-based practices in schools. They work alongside school mental health professionals (SMHPs) who are delivering their first round of TRAILS CBT and Mindfulness sessions, offering weekly mentorship and implementation support to these SMHPs as they work to grow their clinical skills.
What training do TRAILS Coaches receive?
A Coach-In-Training (CIT) attends an initial training in the CBT and Mindfulness program, then participates in approximately ten weeks of case consultation with a TRAILS team member. Finally, CITs who successfully complete consultation and are recommended by their consultant are invited to receive training in the TRAILS coaching protocol and provide coaching for TRAILS partner schools.
Interested in becoming a TRAILS Coach? Complete this survey.
What evidence-based practices are used in TRAILS programs?
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), CBT and Mindfulness, and Coping with COVID-19 programs are all grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness: two evidence-based practices proven to support student mental health. TRAILS SEL applies basic CBT and mindfulness concepts to help all students understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected, and how they can better notice and manage all three. The CBT and Mindfulness program applies specific CBT and mindfulness skills to help students manage symptoms of depression and anxiety, while the Coping with COVID-19 program teaches students healthy coping skills – also grounded in CBT and mindfulness – to help them care for themselves in challenging times.
In addition to the use of these evidence-based practices at Tiers 1 and 2, our Tier 3 program Suicide Prevention and Risk Management offers guidance on the development of school suicide prevention policies that reflect current best practices, including the use of an evidence-based screening tool to accurately assess a student’s level of suicide risk.