Training and Access Project:

Professional Development for School Communities on
Social-Emotional Learning and Behavioral Health

Professional Development for School Communities on Social-Emotional Learning and Behavioral Health

The Training and Access Project (TAP)

The Training and Access Project (TAP), an initiative within Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnerships, offers professional development for school communities to strengthen knowledge, practices, and resources in order to build capacity to address social-emotional learning and behavioral health in schools.

This free series of brief videos is designed for school communities everywhere. The videos offer an introduction to key topics to guide schools in exploring how they can build sustainable systems of support for social-emotional learning and behavioral health with students, families, and school staff. Additional resources are provided to extend the learning.

Register below for free access to the videos and resources!

Building the Foundation video series includes:

  • An Overview of the Behavioral Health Landscape in Schools
  • Utilizing Public Health Models in Schools to Support Social-Emotional Learning
  • Building Teams in Schools
  • Strategies to Support Students in the Classroom: Understanding Student Behavior
  • Strengthening Partnerships between Families and Schools

Register Here

Building a Foundation for
Behavioral Health in Schools

These short videos provide research-based information, practical tools, and engaging materials to build a foundation for increasing capacity to incorporate social-emotional learning and behavioral health into your school community.

They are designed for all school staff including teachers, specialists, school nurses, administrators, school counselors, school-based clinicians, paraprofessionals, and support staff who are wanting to learn more about best practices or for school teams that are looking to start a conversation about how these topics can be addressed in their schools.

We welcome your feedback in the post surveys provided and we hope you enjoy the series!

An Overview of the Behavioral Health Landscape in Schools

This video features information on the importance of providing behavioral health supports in schools. It will share an overview of behavioral health in schools, including key definitions, prevalence, and the challenges with accessing care.

This video offers steps schools can take to begin to incorporate behavioral health and social-emotional learning in their school communities.

Additional Resources References Post-Survey

Utilizing Public Health Models in Schools to Support Social-Emotional Learning

When looking at an overall framework to structure social-emotional learning in schools, public health models can support the implementation of a variety of initiatives in schools. This video will discuss what a public health model is and how it applies to schools.

It will provide examples of public health models that are commonly used in schools, such as MTSS and PBIS, and share strategies and considerations for implementation and sustainability.

Additional Resources References Post-Survey

Building Teams in Schools

Teams are essential to the operation and growth of schools. The work accomplished by a team of individuals can create significant and positive change within a school building, especially when implementing initiatives related to social-emotional learning and behavioral health.

In this video, key elements that can be helpful when forming and maintaining a team within a school will be shared.

Additional Resources References Post-Survey

Strategies to Support Students in the Classroom: Understanding Student Behavior

Being able to support students is central to every school community and there are a variety of factors that can contribute to a student’s behavior. This introductory video provides definitions around key terms and considerations when thinking about behavior.

With a holistic view of behavior, this video offers school-based practices and strategies for supporting students and educators.

Additional Resources References Post-Survey

Strengthening Partnerships between Families and Schools

One of the foundational elements of being in schools is partnering with families. This video highlights the importance of family engagement and shares how family engagement can be different from family involvement.

It will also highlight practices school professionals can use to build and strengthen partnerships with families.

Additional Resources References Post-Survey

Training and Access Project
‍Additional Online Courses to Expand Learning

TAP also offers a series of more detailed online courses designed for school communities everywhere. These self-paced trainings feature interviews with educators and school professionals sharing their own experiences, challenges, and strategies in the classroom.

TAP’s online courses are designed for all school staff including teachers, specialists, school nurses, administrators, school counselors, paraprofessionals, and support staff.  Each training is composed of easy-to-follow videos and resources on key topics related to social-emotional learning and behavioral health in schools such as tools for the classroom, supports for students, managing crises, connecting families with services, and more.

Online courses include:

  • An Overview of Social-Emotional Development:  What Can We Expect in the Classroom?

  • Introduction to Behavioral Health in Schools: Supports for Students

  • Managing Behavioral Health Crises in Schools

  • Understanding Trauma and the Impact on Learning:

    • Part 1: Definitions and Effects on the Brain

    • Part 2: Effect on Behavior, Learning, and Relationships

    • Part 3: Strategies for Supporting Students

  • Strengthening Team Processes

Additional resources and a certificate are provided for all viewers upon completion of each training, as well as CEUs.*

* CEUs are available for these courses for social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses in the United States, as well as educators in Massachusetts.

Registration links and more information on these courses can be found here

Core Concepts

The Training and Access Project designs content using the seven core concepts listed below as a guide when developing videos, resources, and other materials. Depending on the video topic, some of the core concepts may be more heavily focused on than others.

Diagram showing the core concepts of the TAP program

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions and thoughts and the influence of these on behavior. It includes reflecting on one’s strengths and limitations. We embed activities to increase self-awareness as we believe when we are better able to recognize our internal cues, we can gain greater insight into our blind spots and the lens through which we interpret the world.

Adult Learning Principles

Adult learners want to be actively engaged in learning, solving problems, and meeting real world challenges. We incorporate these concepts to  maximize learning and meet the needs of participants who have diverse knowledge, experiences, interests, and backgrounds. 

Person in the Environment

Brofenbrenner’s ecological systems theory  examines child development within the context of various systems and their relationship to one another. This model examines how a child’s environment and social relationships impact their development and behavior and focuses on the  intersection of factors and systems. When we talk about students and families, we encourage participants to think about how all the environments and systems impact their development. 

Partnering with Families

Caregivers and families are essential to a student’s growth and development as well as to their school experience. Our work with students can be impacted by the relationships that we develop with their caregivers and families. When discussing programming and strategies in our training, we highlight how schools can include caregiver and family voice and partner with families to support students’ needs. 

Culturally Responsive Lens

It is important that school professionals strive to be culturally aware and understand the dynamics of cultural interactions. All of our best practices need to be looked at through this lens so that they are adapted as one size does not fit all. A key component within our trainings includes discussing the role of culture and diverse perspectives and experiences of students, families, and staff and how this shapes our work in school communities.

Anti-Racist Practices

Literature tells us that anti-racist practices include thinking, acting, and advocating for equality and actively working to change policies and systems. We will invite you to reflect on your role and school community and consider how anti-racist practices have been incorporated or could be further implemented. 

Research-Based Practices

The research fields of education, social emotional learning, and behavioral health are continually evolving. We conduct an extensive review of literature in order to include information in our webinars that is driven by current research. We strive to present strategies and practices identified in the literature that are relevant and applicable to a school setting.

Disclaimer: These videos are for informational use only. There are models and organizations mentioned in these videos and resources, but BCHNP does not promote or endorse any specific organizations, models, curriculum, or other materials mentioned or provided. The videos are meant to be shared within schools and among school professionals to advance individual and school community practices. Do not duplicate or alter without permission from BCHNP.  Thank you for your cooperation. Any information gathered is for internal use only.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

About Us

Boston Children's Hospital Neighborhood Partnerships (BCHNP) is a school-based behavioral health program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

The Training and Access Project (TAP), an initiative within BCHNP, provides professional development and consultation services to help build schools’ capacity to support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral health needs.

Contact us at BCHNP@childrens.harvard.edu if you have any questions about our program and initiatives.

BCHNP would like to thank the National Life Group Charitable Foundation Inc., Charles and Gloria Clough Foundation, and the Manton Foundation for making these projects possible.

We would also like to thank Giro Studios for the production and support of webinars, videos, and website.