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District details expanded mental-health staff, school‑based services and employee supports funded in part by referendum
Summary
At the Sept. 23 workshop St. Lucie Public Schools outlined school-based mental-health staffing, tiered supports, training and community partnerships funded in part by a voter‑approved referendum; district staff also described employee assistance resources available to staff and dependents.
St. Lucie Public Schools used its Sept. 23 workshop to brief the board and the public on school‑based mental‑health services, staff counts, training and community partnerships the district says help identify and support students and employees in need.
Heather Rowland, executive director of student services, and Esther Rivera, director of student services, described a multi‑tiered system of supports. Rivera told the board the district employs 106 certified school counselors, 20 school social workers, 11 school‑based mental‑health counselors and 17 school psychologists; those staff provide universal prevention, small‑group and individual clinical interventions at school sites. Rivera said the district used referendum funding to expand its team.
“Open dialogue about mental health is essential to reducing stigma,” Rivera said, introducing short video testimonials from students, teachers and caregivers about counseling in schools.
Dr. Michelle Gillard, the district’s coordinator of mental health and psychological services, described the…
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