Project Summary

The overall purpose of Project SPACE (School Psychologists Advocating for culturally-responsive and equitable mental health services) is to recruit and train 24 new school psychology graduate students to enter the field, prepared to work with children and youth from historically minoritized identities.

In a partnership between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), training will emphasize skills related to providing culturally-responsive school mental health services. This training grant will support four cohorts of six students each year (24 students total).

Project SPACE will integrate several recruitment and training activities that will collectively increase the number of school psychologists who are trained to provide culturally-responsive mental health services in schools and to address the shortage of mental health providers.

Funding Period: 4/1/2023 – 12/31/2027

Amount: $5,995,003

Funder: US Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Awardee: University of Wisconsin–Madison

Principal Investigator: Katie Eklund

Co-Principal Investigators: Andy Garbacz, Steve Kilgus, Kristy Kelly, Kristen Guetschow, Melanie Salgado

Research Project Coordinator:  Lydia Wells

Students: Grace Rubenzer, Kasheah Jennings, Earl Salmons