Brave

The BRAVE program began as a result of the St. Johns County School District identifying that there has been an increasingly large need for counseling services for students. The number of students having to wait for services combined with the often-fragmented communication between schools and behavioral health providers contributed to the development of many barriers for families. We received appropriations through House Bill 3517 that allows us to offer navigation services to school districts at no cost. BRAVE utilizes a unified intake process, where Care Connect staff identify unmet social needs, eligible resources, and the most appropriate behavioral health provider for the student. Since the program abides by the referral structure outlined in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, our team is able to work to close the loop on youth behavioral health service referrals. The BRAVE Program breaks down the stigma associated with seeking assistance for mental health, eliminates barriers to receiving support, and ensures that families have access to the services they need to thrive. Our goal is to provide families with helpful information for a seamless resource navigation process.