Elgin ISD Partners with Bluebonnet Trails on Substance Abuse Interventions for DAEP Students

In this series, we’ll highlight impactful mental and behavioral health best practices across Texas to inspire schools interested in developing similar opportunities for youth. 

The Project AWARE team at Elgin ISD has partnered with Bluebonnet Trails, a community service center, to implement voluntary substance abuse interventions for Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) students in 7th to 12th grade. This partnership provides engaging group sessions for youth and a supportive space for them to work through their struggles. 

When considering the Texas School Mental Health Framework, Elgin ISD’s partnership with Bluebonnet Trails addresses multiple components of a comprehensive school mental health system including substance use prevention and intervention, building relationships and decision-making skills, mental health promotion, and a supportive school climate. 

Check out our conversation with Elgin ISD’s Ayanna Edwards, LMSW and Project AWARE community project manager, and Nykki Arowoshola, LPC and Project AWARE mental health behavioral health specialist. 

1) How did these substance abuse interventions get started? What was the need you were trying to meet by partnering with Bluebonnet Trails? 

Nykki: We started by brainstorming what interventions were needed for students and what type of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) we could create through the AWARE program. We were already working with Bluebonnet on other services for the school community, so we knew they had a drug intervention program we could add on. 

2) What steps did you use to implement this partnership, and what do the interventions look like today? 

Nykki: Our Student Services Director and Program Manager got together and met with Bluebonnet. One of the requirements from Bluebonnet was to have a private place to meet with the students, so they worked on setting up the DAEP campus to provide a private, confidential space. 

When the students go to orientation at DAEP, the Assistant Principal will let them know that this program is available. Parents often say, “You’ve sent our child to DAEP, so how will you help our child?” 

What we do is provide tier 2 services for the kids. I do weekly group sessions with all the students who want to attend. It’s not just specific to vaping or drugs, it’s a group session on different types of topics. 

3) What funding did you use to support this effort? 

Nykki: Although it took a moment to organize the logistics for everything, finances weren’t a problem since Bluebonnet was already receiving funding for this program. 

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Funding Note: Our team had a chance to chat with the Director of Substance Use Services at Bluebonnet Trails, Jack Housworth, to learn more about their funding. He let us know that they get about $350,000 a year from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide substance use treatments for students and their families. Bluebonnet has a partnership with 15 schools within an eight-county area, which includes Elgin ISD. 

4) With House Bill 114 going into effect, can you discuss how your team plans to support students sent to DAEP for vaping? 

Nykki: I want to note that we’re in a pilot year for the intervention program at DAEP. That bill came in all of a sudden which caused an influx of students, and we’re still deciding what we can do to support them. 

Some ideas for next year include creating a digital program or having an individual group session just for students who vape. 

5) Can you share more about the impact this partnership has made so far? 

Nykki: I can say that talking to kids about addiction opens up their eyes to what’s going on. In groups, we set goals and do problem-solving. I’ve seen kids when they go back to the main campus and they’ll say “Hey, I don’t smoke anymore” or “I’ve learned a lot of different things.” I can say that their time at DAEP with the groups made an impact. 

I think just the fact that an adult is talking to you and is concerned about you makes a difference. For example, some students say they vape to escape things going on in their lives, and we’re the ones there to help them unpack that and work through it. 

6) What have you learned from this partnership, and what advice do you have for others who want to try something similar? 

Ayanna: It’s important to have a game plan for making something long-term. You have these resources, but how are you going to make them last and make an impact? Look at long-term goals, and don’t be afraid to reassess and take a different route when needed. 

Nykki: I agree with you, and I think having a systematic curriculum/program is crucial too. What should your program look like? For example, will it be mandatory? When you say something is mandatory, you have to go through the school board and other entities before you can place it in the handbook. 

Ayanna: Also, moving forward, I hope we can have more teamwork and connection between the different staff involved in this partnership. When you create partnerships within the school system, it can be tricky to figure out how we work together while being on the same page. 

Sometimes you see districts with a bunch of resources and partners, but then everybody’s siloed doing their own thing. We’re all there to help the kids, but if we’re all going about it in different ways it’s not as helpful. 

Especially having seen this type of partnership years ago in Burnet County schools and how close they were – everybody worked together and the school staff knew the Bluebonnet workers – I would like to see that grow here too. 

Stay tuned for more Texas school district stories 

Thank you to Ayanna and Nykki for telling us about their work with Bluebonnet Trails! If you want to learn more about the student and family support services at Elgin ISD, visit their page. 

Our Texas School Mental Health website gives school mental health leaders the tools they need to develop a comprehensive school mental health system. Visit our best practices page to learn more about resources and programs for schools.