Over the past 5 years, the UCLA Division of Population Behavioral Health has been supported by the Rare Impact Fund to implement Road to Resilience for Los Angeles Schools. Road to Resilience is a community-partnered initiative by the UCLA Division of Population Behavioral Health (DBPH) in collaboration with Los Angeles County public schools to create and sustain a whole school approach to mental health engagement and prevention supports for under-resourced school communities. Originally a response to the unprecedented mental health needs of students and their families when the COVID-19 Pandemic first began, Road to Resilience builds on decades of UCLA research that support the effectiveness of the FOCUS resilience program. This initiative includes group workshops and the development of a mental wellness app, Connected for Wellness. Designed with input from community partners and youth, the app offers over 500 wellness strategies for youth, parents and school Personnel in English and Spanish, including tips for wellness topics like sleep, grief, and academic stress. The app is currently available on the App Store and Google Play.
Dr. Patricia Lester, director of the Division of Population Behavioral Health and the DMH + UCLA Public Partnership for Wellbeing, said, “The FOCUS resilience program for schools provides school staff with essential tools to share with students and parents in fostering skills such as better communication and handling challenging emotions.”
Dr. Sheryl Kataoka leads in-school programming and the development of Connected for Wellness in the Division, “The Connected for Wellness app is designed to supplement the FOCUS resilience program that is offered to students in schools and provides connection to community resources for additional support.”
New tools within the app highlight resources focused on the specific needs of teachers and school staff. The FOCUS resilience program and Connected for Wellness app are also being distributed throughout LA Schools affected by the January 2025 Wildfires through a grant from the California Fire Foundation and partnership with UCLA Sound Body Sound Mind.
The FOCUS resilience program has been delivered to students from preschool through high school and in whole classrooms as well as in small groups. And now youth, parents and teachers can access these same FOCUS skills in the Connected for Wellness app.
The Rare Impact Fund, a foundation created by Selena Gomez, bridges the gap between donors and non-profits to generate much-needed financial support for mental health. Chief among priorities is supporting non-profits providing services to underrepresented populations as we recognize that mental health disparities among young people who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC), and LGBTQ+. are severely under resourced.
Learn more about FOCUS for Schools and Connected for Wellness.
