Strengthening Prevention Systems to Reduce Restraint and Eliminate Isolation

ASWR is an approved OSPI partner and proud RREI Professional Development Provider, supporting Pilot and Demonstration Sites across Washington working to reduce restraint and eliminate isolation.

We partner with schools and districts across Washington—including Lake Washington • Renton • Puyallup • North Thurston—to strengthen prevention-focused systems, inclusive practices, and leadership alignment so educators have the tools to respond to challenging moments with clarity and care.

Our work helps districts move from intention to sustained practice change—creating school environments where students and educators feel safe, respected, and supported. 

Partner With Us

Why Districts
Choose ASWR

And Still We Rise partners with school districts to strengthen the systems that support students most impacted by exclusionary practices.

Our approach blends mental health expertise, organizational strategy, and authentic partnership to help districts build prevention-focused systems where crises become:

• Less frequent

• Less harmful

• Less isolating

We support leadership teams in translating expectations into clear, sustainable practices across schools.

Districts work with ASWR when they want support turning awareness into meaningful systems change.

Our Role in RREI

Through the Reducing Restraint and Eliminating Isolation (RREI) initiative, ASWR provides targeted implementation support aligned with the Positive Behavioral Supports for Resilient & Inclusive Schools (PBS) Technical Assistance Manual.

Our approach centers:

• Prevention

• Care

• Accountability

• Sustainable implementation

We support districts in building systems that help educators respond to complex moments with confidence, compassion, and consistency.

PBS Manual Alignment

ASWR supports implementation aligned with key sections of the OSPI PBS Technical Assistance Manual, including:

  • School and district systems that support social, emotional, and behavioral well-being

  • Inclusive classroom practices that reduce reliance on exclusionary responses

  • Leadership structures that strengthen decision-making and accountability

  • Prevention systems that support healthier learning environments

How We Support Districts

ASWR works alongside district teams to strengthen implementation through practical, collaborative support.

Our work includes:

  • Implementation Planning

    • Co-develop implementation plans aligned with district priorities and RREI goals

  • Practice-Based Learning

    • Facilitate sessions that help teams move from awareness to action

  • Leadership Alignment

    • Strengthen leadership decision-making and escalation protocols

  • Family & Student Engagement

    • Support engagement practices that strengthen prevention capacity

  • Reflective Systems

    • Create structures for reflection and learning following incidents

Our approach helps districts strengthen prevention systems, leadership alignment, and response practices.

Creating Healing Spaces For All

Our work is grounded in mental health expertise and a commitment to helping schools become communities of belonging, care, and accountability.

We support educators and leaders in creating environments where:

• Students feel seen, respected, and valued

• Staff have clear guidance and support

• Schools respond to challenges with compassion and clarity

While our work draws on mental health expertise, ASWR does not provide clinical services. Instead, we support districts in strengthening prevention, de-escalation, and systems alignment.

What Sets ASWR Apart

Districts partner with ASWR because our approach combines care, strategy, and practical implementation support.

  • Healing-Centered Practice + Systems Strategy

    • We connect relational practices with systems-level change.

  • Capacity Building — Not Dependency

    • Our work equips districts to sustain progress beyond our engagement.

  • Authentic Partnership

    • We work alongside districts with listening, clarity, and shared responsibility.

Districts partner with ASWR when they are ready to move from intention to practice—with steadiness in complex moments and care for both people and systems.

What Our Clients Are Saying

  • It was a 10/10 experience. [And Still We Rise] was so nice and helpful! All the students involved had such a great time and we learned so much!

    Gaina, Framingham BSU

  • “And Still We Rise has been a welcomed partner…to provide guidance and services to BIPOC families following a racially-motivated hate crime. They were able to quickly pull together a team of professional in the direct aftermath to support the families in this tragedy. Further, we continued our work with And Still We Rise in leading workshops focused on affinity groups to explore means to improve solidarity. The team at And Still We Rise has been engaged, attentive and very professional.”

    Meredith, Winthrop Department of Public Health & Clinical Services

  • Roberta Holmes has been extremely helpful and has gone above and beyond to create workable solutions for our needs at Mount Holyoke. And Salwa has met the needs of one of our students in a way that very few others could have. We look forward to continued work together.

    Beth, Mount Holyoke College

  • “Very very wonderful! Thoughtful, kind, supportive, responsive.”

    Amelia, Pause Wellness Center

  • Dr. Cesar is passionate, and absolutely unrivaled in connecting with my BIPOC students. She developed lessons to teach them self awareness, build community, and improve their overall understanding and comfortability in their Black/Brown skin. I am so grateful for the work of ASWR. EVERY school district needs an ASWR provider!

    Andre, BART Charter Public School

  • “We recognized early on that there was a major gap in culturally responsive mental health care. The staff of And Still We Rise spent the time explaining their approach to health and wellness and delivered exactly what our community needed.”

    Meredith Hurley, Public Health, Town of Winthrop

  • “They create safe spaces where individuals feel supported in addressing the mental and emotional toll of their work.”

    Michelle Curry, OSPI

  • “We are better because of our collaboration. ASWR’s feedback and recommendations have been direct, specific, and incredibly helpful.”

    Dr. Lisha Cabral, Easton Public Schools

  • “ASWR demonstrated exceptional expertise in navigating complex conversations around power, privilege, and systemic oppression.”

    Octavio González, PhD, OUT MetroWest

  • “They connect quickly with diverse groups and adapt content in real time. Every member of their team reflects integrity and deep alignment with values.”

    Kelly Lynch, Found in Translation

  • “Students left with increased confidence, connection, and sense of belonging.”

    Andre Lynch, MCLA / BART Charter School

  • “ASWR helped me understand I’m not going through life alone—and that I can lean on my peers.”

    Student, ASWR Affinity Group at BART Charter School

  • “They have demonstrated the highest level of inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and mutual respect. ASWR has been a phenomenal partner.”

    Ishmael Moyo, Gov Service Group

Explore RREI Implementation Support for Your District

If your district is working to strengthen prevention systems and reduce reliance on restraint and isolation, we welcome the opportunity to connect.

Explore RREI Support for Your District