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Case managers hired for mental health, suicide awareness training

Montana Standard (Butte) - 12/17/2014

Dec. 17--The Butte school district has hired three new case managers and one coordinator to oversee the Project Aware program.

With a $425,000 Mental Health First Aid grant, the district can provide suicide prevention training and programs aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues, warning signs and early-childhood trauma.

"We're going to be off and running with Project Aware by Jan. 5," said Jim O'Neill, district curriculum director. Trustees approved the hires at its final year-end board meeting on Dec. 15.

In October the district won a portion of a $1.2 million Project Aware grant, to be split with Kalispell and Browning public schools.

New Project Aware hires are:

--Cassie O'Leary, coordinator

--Emily Smith, Kaylee Reynolds and Ashley Choquette, case managers.

As coordinator, O'Leary's annual salary is $52,730. Each of the case managers will earn $45,150.

The new hires will attend week-long Youth Mental Health First Aid training in Helena.

Youth Mental Health First Aid evaluation and training helps the public better identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness through Youth Dynamics, which treats youth diagnosed with severe emotional disturbance and survivors of child abuse and trauma.

Ultimately, O'Neill plans to train up to 125 people, mainly high school juniors and seniors and community agency personnel. The grant stipulates that at least 25 community individuals receive training.

"We want our juniors and seniors trained because when we're dealing with tragedies, we want to give our students skills," added O'Neill. "Kids want to talk to kids."

The Project Aware coordinator will have an office in the district building, 111 N. Montana St. The case managers will be based at Butte High Career Center, but will travel among the schools.

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(c)2014 The Montana Standard (Butte, Mont.)

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