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An image of a teacher engaging with two students in a classroom setting, fostering a positive and supportive learning environment. This represents the importance of empowering teachers, administrators, and others working with children to develop the skills needed to respond effectively to mental health challenges and support students in distress. The word "EMPOWER" is prominently displayed below the image, symbolizing the focus on equipping educators to create impactful change.
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Empower Schools

Course Type: Not Faith Based
Course Access: Lifetime
Course Format: Online

EMPOWER Schools is a free, fully virtual, self-paced mental health literacy course designed for teachers, administrators, and school staff who work with children and adolescents. The course provides practical knowledge and skills to help educators Recognize mental and behavioral health problems, Relate to those with mental and behavioral health challenges, and Reveal a starting point for care.

This training prepares participants to recognize signs that a student may be experiencing a mental or behavioral health problem and understand how to respond appropriately within their professional role.

Participants develop foundational knowledge of mental and behavioral health, mental illness, and mental distress in children and adolescents. The course addresses common signs and symptoms of mental and behavioral health problems, the effects of stigma and misconceptions about mental illness, and warning signs associated with suicide.

This course provides practical guidance for communicating safely, effectively, and compassionately with a young person experiencing a mental or behavioral health challenge. Participants learn how to listen without judgment, maintain appropriate professional boundaries, and help students and families identify a starting point for professional care and support.

Educators are not expected to diagnose, counsel, or treat mental illness. The purpose of this course is to strengthen the mental health literacy and practical response skills educators can use within their role to recognize concerns, relate to students with compassion, and help reveal an appropriate next step toward care.

Research-Informed Course Design

EMPOWER Schools was included in a 2026 independent landscape and comparative analysis of school-based mental health literacy programs. The research reviewed 27 programs and evaluated 10 leading programs across 25 implementation measures.

The analysis examined competencies and program characteristics associated with educator preparedness and school-based mental health literacy, including the ability to recognize student mental health concerns, respond appropriately, and help connect students with support. Findings from the analysis provide additional support for the competencies emphasized throughout EMPOWER Schools and for the course’s application within school settings.

The independent review also identified EMPOWER Schools as compliant with Texas House Bill 3 (HB 3) school mental health training requirements.

Objectives
FAQs
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Objectives

You Will Learn:

  • What mental and behavioral health, mental illness, and mental distress mean and how mental health problems can affect children and adolescents.
  • How to recognize common signs and symptoms associated with mental and behavioral health problems.
  • How changes in behavior, emotions, relationships, school performance, and daily functioning may indicate that a student needs support.
  • The facts behind common misconceptions about mental illness and how stigma can create barriers to seeking help.
  • How to recognize suicide warning signs and respond when someone may be considering suicide.
  • How to communicate safely, effectively, and compassionately with a young person experiencing a mental or behavioral health challenge.
  • How to respond appropriately while maintaining healthy professional boundaries and staying within the educator’s role.
  • How to identify a starting point for care and help students and families connect with appropriate professional, school, and community resources.
  • How to support more informed conversations about mental and behavioral health within the school community.

The 3Rs Framework

EMPOWER Schools is organized around three practical competencies educators can remember and apply within their professional role: Recognize, Relate, and Reveal.

Recognize mental and behavioral health problems

Develop foundational knowledge of mental and behavioral health and learn how mental health problems may appear in children and adolescents. Participants learn to identify changes in behavior, emotions, relationships, school performance, or daily functioning that may indicate a student needs additional support.

Recognize also includes identifying common signs and symptoms of mental illness, recognizing suicide warning signs, and understanding how stigma and misconceptions can prevent young people from seeking help. The goal is not to diagnose a student. It is to help educators notice potential concerns and understand when further attention or support may be appropriate.

Relate to those with mental and behavioral health challenges

Learn practical ways to communicate safely, effectively, and compassionately with a young person experiencing a mental or behavioral health challenge. Participants learn how to begin a conversation, listen without judgment, communicate concern, and respond appropriately to what a student shares.

Relate also emphasizes maintaining healthy professional boundaries and understanding the educator’s role. The goal is not for educators to become counselors or mental health professionals, but to help them respond in ways that support students and can serve as a bridge to additional care.

Reveal a starting point for care

Learn how to help identify an appropriate starting point for professional support when a student may need additional care. Participants explore ways to help students and families connect with appropriate school, professional, and community resources.

Reveal emphasizes helping make the next step clearer while remaining within the educator’s professional role. The goal is to reduce uncertainty about where to begin and help students and families identify a pathway toward appropriate support.

After completing EMPOWER Schools, participants will be better prepared to:

  • Recognize signs that a student may be experiencing a mental or behavioral health problem.
  • Notice changes in a student’s behavior or functioning that may warrant additional attention.
  • Respond compassionately and appropriately without stepping outside the educator’s professional role.
  • Recognize suicide warning signs and understand appropriate next steps.
  • Communicate more confidently with students about mental and behavioral health concerns.
  • Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when supporting a student.
  • Help students and families identify a starting point for professional care and support.
  • Challenge stigma and misconceptions related to mental illness.
  • Strengthen mental health literacy within their professional practice.

Course Format:

EMPOWER Schools is:

  • Free to participants.
  • Fully virtual.
  • Self-paced.
  • Designed for teachers, administrators, and school personnel.
  • Identified in the independent analysis as compliant with Texas HB 3 school mental health training requirements.

Course Lessons:

  • Introduction to Empower Schools
  • The First “R” Recognize: Recognize mental and behavioral health problems
  • The Second “R” Relate: Relate to those with mental and behavioral health challenges
  • The Third “R” Reveal: Reveal a starting point for care
  • Conclusion to Empower Schools: Next steps and access to the Educator Portal

FAQs

Who can take the course?

Anyone who has an interest in gaining a greater understanding of this subject is encouraged to take the course.

The course is made up of individual lessons. They can be taken all at once or based on your schedule. You can complete the online course at any time you would like. The course is compatible with all devices.

You can complete the online course at any time you would like. The course is compatible with all devices.

Once you have completed all modules there is a final quiz you will need to complete and pass to receive your Certificate of Completion.

No, we don’t offer in-person training. Visit our course catalog to view all of our online courses.

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