CINCINNATI — In its first major initiative since launching in 2024, Hopeful Empowered Youth Cincinnati (HEY! Cincinnati) is rolling out its “Schools of Wellness” program to increase youth wellness through education and engagement in mentally healthy activities throughout the school environment.

The organization is seeking 8 to 10 middle or high schools in Ohio and Kentucky to participate in the pilot program. Schools can be urban, suburban, or rural and may be public or private. Those selected in April will complete a building self-assessment to help school leaders evaluate their current wellness initiatives, practices, culture, and policies. The assessment is based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) framework, which defines eight dimensions of wellness: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual.

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