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Board hears update on district mental health services, wellness centers and parenting pilot
Summary
District staff reported that a new elementary counseling provider has seen 90 students across seven sites, Spanish-speaking clinicians are now available, two junior-high wellness centers are being set up, and a parenting workshop pilot drew small but growing participation.
Claire Payne, coordinator of student and staff services for the South District Division, told the board at the meeting that the district has expanded and formalized several mental health supports for students, including a new elementary counseling provider, site-based groups and plans for two junior-high wellness centers.
Payne said the district has contracted with Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) this year (the district previously used CHAC/CHACC) and that ACS clinicians have provided one-to-one counseling to 90 students across seven elementary sites. "This is one of my favorite topics, mental health," Payne said. "To date, we have seen 90 students across our seven elementary sites for one-to-one counseling." She added that three schools currently have active groups and several more are forming groups.
The update highlighted several operational points the board said matter to families and staff. Spanish-speaking clinicians are available for the first time this year, the district is running social-skills groups and at least one divorce-support group, and four elementary sites have wait lists (the largest wait list shows two students). Payne told the board that children in crisis do not go onto the wait list and that the typical wait time for non-acute cases is "three, four weeks max." "If there are students who need immediate acute care, we don't place them on the wait list," she said.
Payne described plans to open two wellness centers at the district's junior high campuses, Bloch and Eagan. The centers are designed as calm, self-directed spaces where students can check in, choose a self-regulation activity, set a time limit and return to class; staffers will be available for students who indicate they want additional support. Furniture and calming materials have been ordered and are being assembled for installation at the sites.
The report also covered a pilot parenting series for junior-high families led by licensed therapist Anne Evans. Payne said the first parenting session drew three parents and the second drew nine; a further 12 families expressed interest but could not attend because of scheduling conflicts. Payne described the workshop as a facilitated, small-group discussion to help families share strategies and connect to resources.
Payne credited multiple funding sources with supporting the work, listing El Camino Healthcare District, Valley Health Foundation, LAEF and a recent County Office of Education grant as contributors; she also said some work depends on one-time grant support. She described ongoing clinical supervision for district psychologists through a biweekly consultation with a Stanford psychiatrist and a district crisis response/assessment team that can be deployed to schools.
Board members asked clarifying questions about group topics and capacity. When asked whether there are groups addressing family addiction, Payne said group topics are driven by identified need and teacher/psychologist referral; ACS has been responsive to requests when a need is identified. On language access, Payne said the wait lists at the sites are driven primarily by clinician capacity at that school rather than language mismatch.
The district did not present any formal action for board approval during the update. Payne said staff will continue to monitor demand and share periodic progress reports and photos from the wellness centers as they open.
