From Pilot to Infrastructure: How North Carolina’s Project AWARE/ACTIVATE Is Transforming School-Based Mental Health

Youth mental health needs are increasing, and access to services remains uneven across North Carolina. Schools represent a critical access point for prevention, early identification, and intervention. North Carolina implemented Project AWARE/ACTIVATE to build coordinated school-based mental health infrastructure across diverse districts. This commentary includes a policy and implementation analysis that integrates program documentation and evaluation findings from six pilot Local Education Agencies participating in Project AWARE/ACTIVATE.