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eMerging Healthy Students
Project LINK’s eMerging Healthy Students (eHS) initiative is a school-based behavioral health program designed to support the mental well-being and resilience of middle school students in Hillsborough County, Florida. The program uses a structured, multi-tiered approach that integrates social-emotional learning, technology, direct support, and community collaboration.
The eMerging Healthy Students (eHS) program provides classroom workshops held every Monday throughout the entire school year at Young Middle Magnet School and every Thursday at Stewart Middle Magnet School. These interactive curriculums cover essential topics such as anger management, grief and loss, bullying prevention, and substance abuse prevention.
Designed to be engaging and relatable, the classes utilize real-life scenarios and role-playing exercises to teach students practical coping skills.
Additionally, yoga and other mindfulness fitness classes are offered once a month to help students develop self-awareness and reduce stress. Throughout the school year, students also participate in sessions facilitated by Tobacco Free Florida advocate groups, certified nutritionists, and career development professionals, further enriching their educational experience and promoting overall well-being. ​
​This program also fosters a positive school climate, reducing stigma around mental health and promoting emotional wellness. In partnership with Hillsborough County Public and Charter Schools, eHS addresses the increasing mental health challenges and substance use among youth, especially in underserved communities.
By offering targeted prevention and intervention strategies thats align with SAMHSA’s 8 Dimensions of Wellness framework, the eHS program helps students develop essential coping skills to prevent behavioral health issues from emerging.
The impact of the eMerging Healthy Students (eHS) program is assessed through a robust, data-driven evaluation approach, with specific metrics to track the effectiveness of the program's interventions. ​​
The key measures of success are as follows:​​
Improved Mental Health Outcomes: A central goal of the eHS program is to enhance students' emotional resilience and overall mental health. We aim for 70% of participating students to report improvements in their coping skills and a significant reduction in stress. This is measured through self-report surveys, behavioral assessments, and feedback from wellness coaches. By offering behavioral health education, counseling, and mindfulness activities, eHS empowers students to navigate their emotions and challenges more effectively.
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Increased Access to Services: Access to mental health services is a critical factor in ensuring students receive the support they need. We aim for a 30% increase in the number of students accessing mental health services through the eHS program. This includes both on-site counseling services offered during school hours and referrals to external services for students requiring more intensive care. By eliminating barriers to access, such as transportation or stigma, eHS ensures that more students can receive timely and appropriate mental health support.
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​​Reduction in Behavioral Incidents: The program aims to reduce behavioral incidents associated with emotional and mental health challenges. Specifically, we target a 25% reduction in substance use-related disciplinary actions and a 20% decrease in incidents of aggression among participating students. By providing students with the tools to manage stress, cope with difficult emotions, and make healthier decisions, eHS seeks to minimize disruptive behaviors and promote positive student interactions.
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These outcome measures are tracked and evaluated through a combination of surveys, behavioral observations, and data analysis, ensuring that the eHS program continuously adapts and improves its services to meet the evolving needs of students. The program’s focus on measurable outcomes enables us to assess its success in promoting healthier behaviors, reducing mental health challenges, and increasing access to care for students in need.
Our Approach
Behavioral Health Education
Our behavioral health awareness campaigns aim to reduce stigma surrounding mental health conditions and promote a positive mental health environment.
K Bro APP
“K’ Bro” is a mobile app designed as both a real-time assessment tool and series of interventions to promote healthy emotional self-care and prevent the onset of more serious health concerns.
Individual Therapy
A thorough clinical assessment is conducted by expert clinicians and psychiatrists in eMerging Healthy Students.
Group Thought Circles
eHS group sessions involve one or more therapists working with multiple students. It is here that teens are grouped to openly discuss issues that affect their lives.
Music Therapy
Music Therapy enables teens to learn to acknowledge and express their deep-rooted emotions through the use of multi genre music. In addition, they connect with one another as they compose songs about their thoughts together.
Yoga/Mindfulness Activities
A consistent yoga practice can be grounding, build confidence, and aid in stimulating the relaxation response, which can ease stress and increase feelings of overall well-being.
Meditation
a practice of mindfulness and relaxation that is specifically designed for young people. It is a technique to become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the present moment, without judgment or distraction.
Device Management
Device management focuses on helping teens to build a more balanced relationship
with technology, social media, gaming apps , or other types of device or screen use.
Fitness Activities
Through a variety of engaging physical activities, including team sports, and fitness challenges, students are encouraged to develop healthy habits that reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and enhance emotional regulation