OPTIMISE is a Michigan group made up of nearly 20 education partners to attract, prepare, and retain more professionals in the Special Education field.  This one-stop-shop website features over 400 jobs in a variety of careers that help excel children with disabilities including Special Education Teachers, Paraeducators, School Psychologists, Behaviorist, and more. Discover nine professions, their funding options, and basic steps to jumpstart your career in Special Education.

MASP is a partner in this project and provides input and guidance through the School Psychologists Action Team.  The focus of  this group is to increase the number of school psychologists in Michigan and to remove the barriers for individuals entering the field.

MASP recently established a partnership with TRAILS to support its work. The TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) Curriculum offers a multi-tiered system of support to address the mental health needs of students. At Tier 1, it provides universal social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students, teaching crucial skills for self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. For students exhibiting symptoms of depression and anxiety (Tier 2), TRAILS offers targeted interventions based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, equipping school mental health professionals with the resources to deliver individual or group sessions focused on coping strategies. Finally, Tier 3 focuses on suicide prevention and risk management, providing training and resources to school staff to identify and support students experiencing suicidal ideation. By addressing mental health across these three tiers, TRAILS aims to create a comprehensive and supportive school environment that promotes well-being for all students.

For more information, go to:  TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students)