What is the purpose of the Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center?
The Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center is the result of a collaboration between the West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University. The center was created as a response to local outcry for supports with issues related to student behavior/mental health needs as well as the need to improve the continuity of existing interventions in schools.
What types of technical assistance does the BMHTAC offer?
The center offers a variety of technical assistance services designed to meet the unique needs of counties, schools, and educators, including:
- In-person Professional Learning
- Virtual Professional Learning
- Follow-up Support (post-PL)
- District Leadership Teams
- Virtual Learning Opportunities
Each school or organization is paired with a Regional Behavior Support Specialist who collaborates with stakeholders to tailor technical assistance to their specific goals and challenges. The centers’ approach focuses not only on addressing immediate needs but also on building long-term capacity and sustainable systems that support positive outcomes for students and staff.
How are requests for technical assistance made?
Individuals, schools, districts, and organizations interested in receiving technical assistance from the center should begin by completing an initial application. The application is available on the center’s website at our online request form.
After the application is reviewed, a Regional Behavior Support Specialist will work with you to assess your needs, identify goals, and develop a customized plan for technical assistance that supports both immediate priorities and long-term capacity building.
It is suggested before completing a request that all required individuals are informed and local procedures are adhered to.
What is the process after a request has been submitted?
After completing the initial application, a regional Behavior Support Specialist will make contact for next steps.