Tangipahoa Parish Council recognizes National School Counselor Week; counselors describe SAMHSA AWARE grant

The Tangipahoa Parish Council recognized National School Counselor Week, Feb. 3–7, 2025, and invited three school counselors to describe their roles and a federally funded AWARE grant serving local schools.

Council member Miss Sia Tatt read a signed proclamation acknowledging school counselors’ roles in students’ academic, career and social-emotional development and asked the counselors to speak about their work.

Denise Latura, a counselor based at Ponchatoula High School, told the council she manages a federal AWARE grant for Tangipahoa Parish schools. "I'm Denise Latura. I'm based at Ponchatoula High School, but I manage a half a million dollar grant that Tangipahoa Parish School System received to address mental health challenges in the school system," she said.

Latura described the AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) grant as a five-year award providing $500,000 per year to the parish and said the funds are used for professional development, expanded partnerships with agencies, and services for students. "We use the funds to provide professional development for our teachers and other staff members," she said, adding the grant has helped meet increased local student mental-health needs.

Two other counselors introduced themselves: Shelby Jones said she is one of four counselors at Hammond High Magnet School, and Hope Jones identified herself as the counselor at Midway Elementary School. The council did not take any formal action on the proclamation; the recognition was ceremonial.

Why it matters: The AWARE grant supports school-based mental health work — professional development for staff, partnerships with outside agencies and direct services for students. Council members stressed the parish's ongoing partnership with the school system on that effort.