What's New

Why we’re making these changes

Over the past year, we’ve been pouring over your feedback and performance data to make sure TRAILS delivers what you need to make a lasting difference in the lives of your students.

You’ve been asking for specific improvements to our training, model, and content to make TRAILS easier to implement and sustain, and we’re delivering these in our updated program.

What’s changing and what’s not

What’s changing

• More flexible training: Flexible, bite-sized professional development modules that are always available instead of hours-long, prescheduled Zoom trainings only a few times a semester
• More intuitive structure: Structure that starts with the skills that support mental health and wellness rather than tier divisions
• More roles: Expanded access to more adults in schools, including student and school support staff plus school leaders
• Role-specific learning pathways: Content tailored to job roles and skill sets that staff bring to their role
• Data access: An administrator dashboard that captures implementation data
• More embedded support: Guidance on what to use, how to use it, and what to try next is always available
• Options to customize: Customizations able to help schools address their most pressing priorities
• More resources: we’re adding about 400 more resources for a grand total of 1,500
  
  

What’s staying the same

• Core foundation and approach: Our mission to equip all schools with effective, evidence-based mental health services
• Different levels of student need: Prevention, intervention, and crisis response content
• Emphasis on the CBT model: Skill development for navigating the think-feel-do cycle
• Materials: Our best-in-class materials are still part of TRAILS
• Guidance for working in multiple formats: Resources for working in classrooms, small groups, and with individuals
• Support: Resources to support partners at every step
• Advanced content for school mental health staff: Tier-based supports, group work guidance, and crisis response
• Printable, supplementary tools: Posters, cards, and more
  
  

Details and logistics

Training and professional development

We’ve found that inflexible training models can keep staff from using TRAILS, so we’ve found a solution. Instead of long-form, virtual trainings that demand complex scheduling, we’re pivoting to brief, on-demand modules that can be accessed at any time.

At fall launch, we’ll have close to 50 professional learning modules integrated in the program.

Organization based on student skills

We’re shifting to a structure determined by the skills students develop rather than by tier. This simplifies our program and reflects the way schools work more accurately, recognizing that adults in schools interact daily with students who fall within each tier.

Meanwhile, users spend less time on the road to implementation and more time helping students develop key skills to respond to challenges in effective ways. We’ve shifted to more accessible names for these skills, which have always been part of TRAILS programming:

• Understanding the think-feel-do cycle
• Understanding & Managing Feelings
• Being Present & Staying Calm
• Navigating Intense Feelings
• Rethinking Unhelpful Thoughts
• Taking Action to Feel Better
• Practicing Bravery
• Finding Solutions
  
  

Role-specific pathways

This simplified structure allows us to add role-specific content for all school staff, content that’s appropriate to their jobs and the kinds of interactions they have with students.

Every student-facing adult working in schools will be able to access role-appropriate guidance. Each role’s learning pathway includes professional learning modules, resources, and resource help that address students' varying levels of needs. Learning pathways at launch include:

• Teachers
• Mental Health Staff
• School and Support Staff
• School leaders
  
  

Legacy materials

Current partners who’d prefer to start with what’s most familiar will have access to any tier-based legacy pathway they’ve been trained in prior to fall 2026. These present the same structure, organization, and materials they’ve always used. This includes legacy pathways for:

• Tier 1: Social and Emotional Learning
• Tier 2: CBT and Mindfulness
• Tier 3: Suicide Prevention and Risk Management
  
  

Account setup

We’re still working out onboarding details for current partners to ensure the process is as simple as possible. However, navigating to the updated program for each user will only entail a brief account activation:

• During the week of August 17, current users will receive an email invitation to activate their account in the updated program.
• They will follow the link invitation and create their new account by answering four to five questions confirming their details, like name, school name, and job role.
• Optionally, for building leaders who’d prefer to manage distribution themselves, TRAILS can generate a set of unique invitation links that leaders can forward directly to staff.
  
  

Support

Embedded support

Partners can expect a rigorous level of resource and sustainment support embedded within the program for timely, role-relevant guidance, including suggested next steps.

Guided learning sequences and reinforcing experiences provide timely, contextual guidance, such as explaining when to use a practice, how to apply it, and what to try next. Embedded support is always available, consistent, and accessible in the moment of need, and centers our priority for accessible services available in all schools.

Technical support

We’ll have the same technical support we’ve always had at TRAILS. Access issues, technical bugs, etc. are addressed M-F, via email after users fill out the Report a Problem form on our website.

Additional support

Our team is working on multiple forms of implementation guidance based on partner interest and feedback we’ve gathered in check-in meetings. We have several projects in the works, including a professional learning template and step-by-step crosswalk guidance for transitioning to the updated program.

We’re excited about our program updates and how they’ll help our partners support students, and are working hard to make sure our partners experience a seamless transition.