The Wellness team provides mental health support to students during their regular school day.
The goal of the Wellness Program is to strengthen the health and wellness of the entire community by targeting a critical population – our children. Through successful collaboration with community partners and school districts, this program is dedicated to assisting students in building the foundation for a wholly healthy future.
Why is the Wellness Program Important?
- It provides early identification of mental health concerns associated with an increased risk of suicide.
- It allows students who may have limited access to mental health services to feel supported in the setting where they spend most of their adolescence.
- It connects students and their families with the mental health services and other resources within their community.
- It aids school districts in addressing the growing need for emotional support in students.
- It starts conversations and encourages education about mental health in the community.
Wellness Program Services
Wellness Screenings – Provided during the fall and spring, students, with parent consent, answer questions related to physical, emotional, and social health. This screening provides the Wellness team with information about students who may benefit from additional support throughout the school year. The Wellness Screening aims to identify symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, students are asked about suicidal ideations/attempts, substance use, peer and social concerns, school conduct, and life at home.
Risk Assessments – Based on the results of the Wellness screening, case managers meet with students who are experiencing thoughts of suicide or who have reported a previous suicide attempt to assess their immediate support needs, which often includes collaboration with the students’ parent/guardian.
Case Management – The Wellness team member assigned to each campus meets with students throughout the year who identified mental health concerns in their screening. Topics typically covered during a Wellness check-in are stress management, peer relationships, and coping strategies for symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Social Services – Students who report physical needs (e.g., food insecurity, hygiene needs) are seen periodically by case managers to assist in addressing these needs.
**Disclaimer: The Wellness Program does not provide official diagnoses or therapeutic services.
