Funded through a grant from the US Department of Education, ARROW is an opportunity for the District of Columbia to launch recruitment and retention activities that build knowledge, skills, professional opportunities and job satisfaction for school behavioral health professionals to enter and remain in the workforce through collaboration with local education agencies (LEAs), District colleges and universities and school behavioral health organizations and partners. Learn more below:
Youth Mental Health Ambassador Program
In partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Our Minds Matter presents the Youth Mental Health Ambassador program for District of Columbia public charter high schools. This is a student-led club that focuses on promoting social connectedness, increasing prosocial skills, practicing self-care and healthy habits, and increasing help-seeking behaviors.
Participating student ambassadors complete the Be There Certificate training. These trained student ambassadors lead clubs and schoolwide campaigns to increase mental health literacy. Per school approval, student ambassadors can earn community service hours.
Clubs must convene at least four times during the school year and shall be supervised by two school-based staff; it is recommended that one staff member is trained in mental health. Each supervising staff member will receive a stipend in the amount of $1,250.
Participating schools receive training, technical assistance, and consultation from Our Minds Matter to support successful club implementation. See this one-pager for more information. Interested school leaders should submit an application. Reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] with any additional questions.
Supervisor Retention Bonus
In acknowledgement of the tremendous commitment that District school-based behavioral health supervisory staff have shown in supporting their supervisees and, at times, offering direct support to students, families and staff in DC public and public charter schools, OSSE is offering a one-time retention bonus of $1,000 to eligible clinical supervisors/manager of school-based behavioral health providers employed by DC public and public charter schools, community-based organizations (CBOs) that participate in the Comprehensive School Behavioral Health System and Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) School Behavioral Health Program.
Eligible providers include those employed as a clinical supervisor/manager to school-based behavioral health providers (school social worker, school psychologist, or counselor) providing school-based mental health services at a DC public or public charter school and carry the credentials of social worker, psychologist, or counselor (school counselor or licensed counselor).
Clinical supervisors/managers must have been employed at an eligible placement on or before Dec. 31, 2023, with no more than a 30-calendar day lapse in employment during the school year (subject to verification).
If you meet these requirements, please complete the Application for Eligibility linked below during the application window of Monday, Sept. 23 – Friday, Oct. 25, 2024:
ARROW Retention Bonus Application
If you are employed by a DC public charter school or CBO, please have a human resources official at your place of employment complete an Employment Verification Form and attach it to your application at time of submission.
Community-Based Organization (CBO) Verification Form
DC Public Charter Verification Form
If you have any questions, please review the FAQ page or email [email protected].
For more information, view our Supervisor Retention Bonus Information Session.
First Year Cadre
The ARROW First Year Cadre is for school-based behavioral health providers, i.e., school social workers, school psychologists and counselors (school counselors and licensed counselors), who are new to working in a school-based setting!
The First Year Cadre is an opportunity for providers in their first year working in a school-based setting to build foundational skills necessary to be successful in the school environment. Cohort 2 applications have now clsoed. Please see this one pager for more information and the eligibility criteria.
Questions? Reach out to [email protected].
ARROW Career Center
The ARROW Career Center is a resource for aspiring school-based behavioral health providers in the District of Columbia to view internship and job postings and learn about what it is like to work in a DC public or public charter school. Please visit the ARROW Career Center here, and if you are a current or prospective school-based behavioral health provider or student/trainee, visit this page regularly for updates.
If you are a DC public or public charter local education agency (LEA) or school or a community-based organization (CBO) that provides school-based behavioral health services in partnership with the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), submit employment opportunities using this form: ARROW Career Center Submission Form.
DIFS Information Session:
View the DIFS Information Session recording HERE for more information about the next steps in the ARROW Retention Bonus Process. All DIFS registration documents are due by close of business Wednesday, April 3, 2024 and should be sent to [email protected].
If you have any questions regarding your DIFS paperwork, please email Ivana Thornton ([email protected]) or Alexis Williams ([email protected]).