Center for Applied Research Solutions - CARS

When loss touches a school community, leaders are often the ones expected to hold everyone steady, even if they've never had the chance to build grief literacy as part of their leadership.

That's why we created the GSSLI Academy: a nine-month program where school and systems leaders learn, reflect, and grow alongside one another. Members gain tools and strategies to lead their teams and communities through grief readiness, recovery, and renewal, supported by monthly learning and a dedicated mentor coach.

This summer we invited you to apply, and the response was tremendous. We received more than 100 applications from leaders across a breadth of roles, experiences, and regions, each reflecting a deep commitment to supporting students and colleagues through loss.

Today, we're thrilled to introduce our first Academy cohort: 22 grief-sensitive leaders who will spend the 2026-2027 school year deepening this work together. Welcome, changemakers. We're honored to learn alongside you.

Meet them here: griefsensitiveleaders.org/academy

• • • • •

Want to learn with us? Our programming is open to all at griefsensitiveleaders.org/programming



New York Life Insurance Company
National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement

In just two weeks, our first GSSLI series begins!

Grief-Sensitive Schools Leadership: Foundations is a five-part series designed to set the – you guessed it – foundations of grief-sensitive schools leadership.

Tailored for systems leaders, superintendents, principals, community-based partners, and school mental health team members (and anyone interested!), this series provides the strategic frameworks and approaches needed to build and foster school site and system culture that proactively prepares for, responds to, and heals from collective and individual loss.

- Completely no-cost and open to anyone and everyone interested in grief-sensitive school leadership
- Main sessions = dynamic webinar style; coaching sessions = interactive workshop style
- All main sessions will be recorded and come with CEs (7.5 for the whole series!)

Join us for one, some or all of the sessions here (and read descriptions + see faculty and more: bit.ly/gssli-foundations

The school year has started. For many, the losses of last year, or the years past, linger. For some, loss is fresh and already present in your school leadership. For others, you want to be resourced for if and when loss permeates your schools.

Wherever you are, and however you are, we’re here to resource each other.

Big news from the GSSLI team: our website is officially live.

This has been months in the making — a home for the Grief-Sensitive Schools Leadership Initiative, built to give school and district leaders, educators, counselors, and community partners a real place to land when they're ready to lead their communities through grief and loss with more confidence and compassion.

Inside, you'll find no-cost, national programming for every stage of the journey — from foundational leadership series to hands-on communities of practice to advanced, application-based training. Plus a growing clearinghouse of trainings, podcasts, blogs, and toolkits, and a national network of grief-sensitive peers doing this work alongside you.

As one GSSLI community member, Chad Thomas — former principal and founder of Chicago Public Schools' Care Team — put it:

"A leader can rush people past grief in the name of getting back to normal. Or a leader can slow the room down enough for people to be human."

At CARS, this is exactly the kind of leadership we're proud to help build. Explore the new site and see where you fit in: griefsensitiveleaders.org

National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
New York Life Insurance Company Foundation

As we continue to uplift Su***de Prevention Month this September, we invite you to revisit an article written by our own David Eric Lopez, PsyD, MACP just one year ago—and still timely today.

In Standing Stronger Together: Integrated Approaches for Su***de Prevention, David explores strategies for supporting first responders, families, and communities, including peer support, resilience training, and integrated approaches that can help reduce risk and strengthen wellbeing.

The article also includes a free resource: 5 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress, with practical strategies you can put into action.

Su***de prevention is ongoing work, and the tools, conversations, and connections that strengthen our communities matter year-round.

Read the article and download the tip sheet here: bit.ly/standing-stronger-together-article

***dePreventionMonth #988

Today is 988 Day — a national initiative raising awareness about the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline and the importance of mental health and su***de prevention. This year's theme, "988 Reasons: Your Reason Is Reason Enough," reminds us that you don't have to be in crisis to reach out. Whatever you're facing (big or small) your reason for seeking support is reason enough.

At CARS, we're proud to support the workforce behind moments like this — providing training and technical assistance to support those who support others.

If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988.

SAMHSA

***dePreventionMonth

Everyone needs support — whether that's someone to talk to, or resources and tools to lean on.

Su***de prevention takes all of us. This September, for Su***de Prevention Month, we invite you to start the conversation. Check in with yourself, then check in with those you love. Send the text. Make the call. Take the walk. Share a meal. It's a reminder that they are not alone — that YOU are not alone. This year, we're changing the narrative on su***de.

And if you're looking for a deeper dive into su***de prevention resources, our Learning Exchange offers a free library of tools and recordings you can access anytime. Watch archived webinars like "Trauma-Informed Su***de Prevention for Educators," where we unpack common myths about students and su***de and explore why including students as partners in prevention efforts matters. Or hear from a diverse panel of Peer Specialists working across the crisis continuum of care in "Peers Supporting People in Times of Crisis."

Signing up is free and takes just minutes. Join us: bit.ly/cars-learning-exchange

We all have a role in su***de prevention. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988.

***dePrevention ***dePreventionMonth

Thank you to everyone who joined our LIVE Open House yesterday!

It was a wonderful chance to connect, share what's available on the Learning Exchange, and hear directly from you on how we can keep building a space that supports the work you do.

A big thank you to our team for bringing it to life, and to everyone who showed up–from Washington State to Albuquerque to West Point–and shared their voice.

Missed it? We've got you covered — catch the recording here: bit.ly/cars-learning-exchange

We'd also love your feedback — take our short survey by Friday, September 11: bit.ly/cars-learning-exchange-poll

Keep an eye out — our monthly Open Mic series is launching soon.

Today's the day!

Our CARS Learning Exchange (CLE) Open House kicks off at 12pm PT / 3pm ET, live on the CLE platform.

Still time to join us — head here to sign up for your FREE membership: bit.ly/cars-learning-exchange

We're looking forward to introducing you to the team, walking through what CLE has to offer, and giving you a first look at what's ahead. See you soon!

- The CARS Team

Our Learning Exchange Virtual Open House is almost here!

Tomorrow's the day, and we want you to know exactly who you'll be seeing.

Our CARS Learning Exchange (CLE) team is bringing the Learning Exchange Open House to life TOMORROW, and we couldn't be more excited to introduce them:

- Dennis will kick things off with a welcome and a look at why we're gathered
- Erika will provide a brief overview of the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS)
- Minh will walk us through the CLE platform — public spaces, resources, and how to spark discussions of your own
- Kristi will run a quick poll to hear directly from you on how CLE can best support your work, and gives you a first look at our upcoming monthly Open Mic series
- Leora will spotlight two of our resource hubs, SCRR and MHTTC and share how you can get in touch for training and technical assistance support

You'll also get a chance to explore the space on your own before we regroup for open discussion — this is your chance to ask questions, share ideas, or just say hello.

Happening TOMORROW, Thursday, August 27, 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET, live on the platform.

Still need to sign up for the Learning Exchange? It's quick, free, and takes about two minutes — grab your spot now so you're ready to join us tomorrow: bit.ly/cars-learning-exchange

Can't wait to put names to faces!

Our Learning Exchange Virtual Open House is almost here!

Join us Thursday, Aug 27 at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET for a live look inside the CARS Learning Exchange — a free, secure community where behavioral health professionals connect, collaborate, and learn from peers nationwide.

Come and meet some of the CARS team, get a tour of the platform, and hear what's ahead. This is also your chance to bring your ideas, your questions, your wish list for the Learning Exchange to us–we want to build this space alongside you.

Since we're hosting live on the platform, you'll need a free account to join us. It only takes a few minutes.

Sign up here, and we'll see you Thursday!
bit.ly/cars-learning-exchange