• Our Mission

    The mission of the Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative is to the reduce rate of in-school arrests, expulsions, and out-of-school suspensions. By doing this, SBDI helps keep kids in school, improves student outcomes, and ensures that students receive fair and equitable in-school discipline regardless of mental health, special education needs or demographic characteristics such as race or ethnicity.

    Find out More

  • Participating Schools

    To date, the School-Based Diversion Initiative has been implemented in 76 schools across 26 Connecticut school districts.

    Which Schools Have Participated?

  • Community Partners

    SBDI helps schools understand and access existing mental health services and supports in their community to effectively meet the needs of students and their families. Partnerships include (but are not limited to): community-based behavioral health service providers, local law enforcement, youth and family engagement advocates, youth service bureaus, juvenile review boards, and community collaboratives (e.g. systems of care, LISTs). Learn More About Our Partners

  • Resources

    View our list of resources, including the SBDI toolkit and videos as well as publications and other related information.

    FIND RESOURCES HERE
  • A male teacher sits at a desk beside a teen boy. They are looking at papers together.

    Join Us

    We are currently recruiting new schools and districts to participate in SBDI for the 2024-25 school year! To join the 73 schools in 26 districts across Connecticut who have implemented SBDI, please contact Project Coordinator Elaine Mancini.

    Contact Us

SBDI Delivers Results

Background

The Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) model was co-developed in 2008 by CHDI, the Court Support Services Division (CSSD) of the Judicial Branch, and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) with funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It was piloted in three schools in 2009 and was included as part of Governor Malloy’s Second Chance Society legislation in 2015. SBDI is state funded and overseen by the State Department of Education, DCF, CSSD, and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The Child Health and Development Institute serves as the SBDI Coordinating Center.

CT DCF

CT Judicial Branch

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services