Past work

Since 2019, Lake Washington School District has teamed up with several reputable local partners to implement a screening and intervention system at the middle school level. This tool, called SBIRT was a partnership between King County, Seattle Childrens, Youth Eastside Services (YES) and 11 local school districts. 

The optional screening was completed through the Check Yourself tool developed by Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington with Tickit Health. The screening asksed students questions about their strengths, goals, mental health, substance use and safety. 

Based on screening results, the school counseling team, in partnership with behavioral health specialists from Youth Eastside Services, connected with students who indicated higher levels of risk or requested additional support. Students may have received a brief intervention of several sessions with their school counselor based on motivational interviewing principles.  

Students at elevated levels of risk may have been referred to providers in the community for additional supports. 

Next steps

Because of the work that was done over the past three years, LWSD felt it had a better understanding of ways to better mobilize mental health supports in our schools. As a result, we are no longer planning to participate in SBIRT.

LWSD is committed to the well-being of each and every one of its students. Starting in the 2022-23 school year, all eight of our middle schools (and two choice schools) will have a full-time behavioral health specialist on-site to support our students, similar to the supports we already have in our high schools. 

Questions?

Please contact studentservices@lwsd.org with any questions.