Over the last three years, BUILD awardees have been building community power and changing systems to create healthier neighborhoods. This story features the collaborative in Durham, NC.
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The WHOLE Schools Movement is an initiative led by the Durham Public Schools Foundation in partnership with Durham Public Schools, Duke University, and the Durham County Health Department. A focus on holistic mental health transforms public school environments into trauma-informed, culturally-responsive support systems for everyone.
The initiative is structured around four pillars: school-level grants, mental health ambassadors, model schools, and community education. The WHOLE Schools team trained educators as mental health leaders and seeded community-led wellness initiatives in schools across the district, which are creating a culture of belonging for Durham’s young people.
Over the past three years, the collaborative has:
- Funded 44 schools (out of 57 in the district) to implement mental health and wellness initiatives, totaling $367,942 in funding.
- Trained 50 educators and school staff across 20 public schools as Mental Health Ambassadors in youth mental health first aid and restorative practices.
- Launched and co-managed a well-being specialist position embedded in two model schools, contributing to a decrease in suspensions.
- Hosted a student-led mental health training where middle schoolers traveled to the state capitol to advocate to the state superintendent.
- Developed the Thrive Guide, a bilingual mental health resource.
Read about the BUILD Durham initiative, and learn more.
“These students have no fear. They’re naturals. They were firm in their understanding because it’s their experience.”
Explore the mental health resources developed by The WHOLE Schools Movement, along with other materials from the initiative.
In honor of BUILD’s tenth anniversary in 2025, we interviewed the Durham partners. Listen here to learn more about what their work together has unlocked.
