The Walton County School District has dedicated staff who collaboratively focus on building resilience and wellness and addressing mental health concerns among our students. Our Student Services Coordinators, Counselors, Special Education Teams, Positive Behavior Intervention Support(PBIS) Teams, and Project AWARE Manager and Clinicians devote time to mental health-related awareness, prevention, and intervention. We focus on resilience-building activities to ensure students are connected to appropriate and effective programming, support, and behavioral health services.

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (Project AWARE) Grant

In October 2023, the Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (NEGA RESA) named WCSD as one of three Georgia school districts to receive competitive funding for Project AWARE. AWARE stands for Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education. This federal funding originated as a national response to school violence and mental health of school-aged youth from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Walton County School District and our neighbors Jackson and Barrow County School Systems will receive this funding through September 2028. 

The grant is designed to provide support to accomplish three things:

• Increase mental health awareness among school-age youth and adults who support them
• Prepare school personnel and other adults who interact with youth to respond to mental health issues
• Help students and families connect with needed services

The Walton County School District will receive grant funds over a period of five years. The funding will support three new staff positions for WCSD - a  Mental Health Clinician, Student Engagement Specialist, and Project Manager.

The goal of AWARE is to add programming and supports that build a sustainable system of wellness and school safety that aligns to the strategic goals of Walton County Schools District.Dr. Kraig Howell Project AWARE Manager