Areas of Expertise

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Behavioral and Mental Health Screening, and Data-Based Decision Making  

Our team has expertise in the design, implementation, and scaling of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) that are grounded in evidence-based practices and equitable practices and outcomes for all students. Specifically, our projects involve school team level and district level consultation on understanding and building MTSS models, including how to build effective teams. We also specialize in helping schools use universal and targeted screening to proactively identify student needs across academic, behavioral, and mental health domains. Through the development of robust data infrastructure for schools and application of data-based decision-making frameworks, we guide schools and districts in aligning preventive and tiered intervention to support students for academic success.    

Evidence-Based, Inclusive Practices for Behavior, Social-Emotional Wellness, and Mental Health  

Our team conducts training, consultation, evaluation, and research by partnering with schools, districts, and communities to translate research into practice using evidence-based programs and practices. Our team has expertise in equity-driven approaches that address mental health concerns (e.g., traumatic stress, emotional issues, behavioral issues), access to care, digital mental health, suicide prevention, bullying, and health disparities. We have expertise supporting vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ youth. We also support the design and implementation of inclusive classroom models that meet the needs of all learners, including students with emotional regulation challenges. By promoting less restrictive, more supportive environments, we help ensure fair access to educational opportunities, meaningful participation, and connection.  

School Mental Health Research Methods  

Our methodological approach blends scientific rigor with real-world relevance to conduct research, evaluation, and continuous improvement. We specialize in advanced quantitative methods, psychometrics, survey design, and assessment strategies that center student well-being and system-level change. We also have expertise in qualitative methods, and mixed methods for understanding implementation. In all our work, our team emphasizes partnered and participatory research methodologies that embrace complexity and context in our efforts to bridge the science to practice in program implementation. We also use contextualized partner-responsive methods (name??) to collaborate with school leaders, community partners, and educators to make sense of real-world contexts and real-world data—mapping practice processes, identifying what works in specific settings, and building practice-based evidence from the ground up. We are also committed to responsive and responsible innovation in data collection and analysis. Our data visualization practices prioritize clarity, inclusivity, and utility. We design visual tools that empower local decision-making and reflect the lived realities of the populations we serve. 

Partner-Responsive Implementation 

Out team is dedicated to developing research, evaluation, implementation, and practice approaches that are driven by our collaborators’ needs and values. This approach centers on adapting programs and supports to align with the unique needs, culture, strengths and capacity of each community or organization. By tailoring implementation and research questions to our partners’ specific context, this approach ensures solutions are practical, relevant, and sustainable, fostering stronger collaboration and lasting impact.