Project Summary

Project EPIC (Enhancing Family-School-Community Partnerships through an Interconnected Systems Framework Collaboration) will support installation of The Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF). ISF is a structure and process that maximizes effectiveness and efficiency by blending the strengths of school and community mental health (while leveraging the essential components) of the multi-tiered, evidence-based framework of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Systemic outcomes include: aligning and leveraging related social-emotional-behavioral (SEB) and mental health initiatives through one system; active participation of family and youth; and integrating community and school partners into a blended set of teams for selecting and progress-monitoring interventions, data-based decision making, universal screening, and coaching.

Funding Period: 10/1/2021 – 9/30/2026

Amount: $1,241,402

Funder: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Awardee: Lake County (IL) Regional Office of Education

Principal Investigator: Kelly Perales

Co-Principal Investigators: Katie Eklund, Andy Garbacz, Stephen Kilgus