Masthead

Vol. 12 No. 2
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Spring, 2013

 

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For example, in the broader community, OBRE (along with its sister organization, the Center for Community Engagement) has been working on a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant with the Arkansas Division of Behavioral Health Services to plan implementation of what are called “Wraparound Services” for Arkansas youth with severe emotional disturbances. Christy Brinkley and Becky Hegger are playing key roles in this effort, with Trisha Arnold providing essential support. OBRE also worked with Out of the Dark (a regional drug prevention group) on strategic planning for their school chapters and on an application for a Drug-Free Communities grant to prevent and reduce drug use among our youth. As part of its data-oriented mission, OBRE has partnered with the Education Renewal Zone at ASU, the Rural STEM Education Center at ASU, and other groups to gather information on program successes in schools. At ASU, OBRE has worked with other colleges to facilitate their projects. For example, with Eleny Davis’ leadership, we are helping the Beck PRIDE Center at ASU examine its efforts to help veterans and the ELF program monitor its success in encouraging students to pursue STEM opportunities. OBRE has worked on many other projects over the last year, ranging from STEM education to mental health courts to children’s physical and mental health.

We also started a new initiative in 2012. OBRE has established a resource center for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), providing training and technical assistance for schools. PBIS is a proactive, systems approach for improving school climate and providing behavioral supports so that all students have the opportunity to achieve social, emotional and academic success. Led by Becky Hegger, since June of 2012 OBRE has provided 10 PBIS training events to 140 attendees from 21 different schools, and has developed presentations for other venues, such as the Arkansas Attorney General’s 2013 Youth Summit on preventing school violence and the 2013 Arkansas Association of Middle Level Education conference. Additional PBIS trainings will be held throughout the 2013-2014 school year, on a monthly basis (check out the PBIS website for details and updates: http://cce.astate.edu/pbis).

For additional information about OBRE, please contact us at obre@astate.edu.