What is the purpose of the Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center?
The Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center is the result of a collaboration between the West Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and the Autism Training Center at Marshall University. The center was created as a response to local outcry for supports with issues related to student behavior/mental health needs as well as the need to improve the continuity of existing interventions in schools. Our mission at the center is to develop internal capacity within each county to address their students’ unique needs.
What types of technical assistance do you offer?
Face to face professional development, follow ups from trainings, book studies, professional learning community’s extension activities, webinars, Skype meetings, conference calls, and the annual WV PBIS Conference. A regional Behavior Support Specialist will work with each person to tailor the technical assistance to address the specific needs but also to build capacity.
What costs are associated with the technical assistance provided?
Technical assistance provided by the center is free of charge for all WV county school systems. However, costs associated with venue, paying substitutes, etc. will be the responsibility of the entity requesting the technical assistance.
How do I request technical assistance?
Anyone interested in technical assistance from the center should complete an initial application. The initial application can be found at www.marshall.edu/bmhtac. Completed application should be submitted to your regions Behavior Support Specialist (see regions contact information).
What is the process after I submit a request?
After completing the initial application your region’s Behavior Support Specialist will contact you with next steps. Make sure you submit your request to your region’s BSS. If you are unsure, please refer to the Regional Contact Information tab.