This brief details the significant strides made by the Paradise Unified School District (PUSD) in establishing robust school mental health systems to facilitate healing and recovery. PUSD, which serves the rural communities of Paradise, Magalia, and Stirling City—areas deeply affected by the 2018 Camp Fire—has launched several key initiatives through Project Cal-Well. These initiatives focus on creating supportive school climates, expanding access to mental health services, and fostering partnerships to enhance overall well-being.

The brief underscores PUSD’s notable achievements in reducing feelings of chronic sadness and hopelessness among its students and in lowering suicide rates. These positive outcomes underscore the district’s commitment to the long-term maintenance and improvement of mental health supports. With the aid of grants and the creation of resource centers on each school campus, PUSD is determined to ensure the continuity and growth of these vital programs, demonstrating a sustainable model for fostering student mental health and resilience.