Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Mental Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rockville Centre Board hears mental-health update; district to launch Twilight program for high-school students
Summary
District officials reported expanded mental-health partnerships with Northwell Health, introduction of the Teen Intervene program and a Twilight program to support high-school students with school avoidance, plus a May 3 wellness walk and plans for expanded staff training and family engagement.
Marie Dalton, a member of the district mental-health committee, told the Rockville Centre Union Free School District Board of Education during its Jan. 23 work session that the committee is focusing on rising anxiety among students, social-media impacts and strengthening supports for families.
The committee has partnered with the Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth and Northwell Health to offer presentations and services. "Parents have expressed a strong desire for tools and strategies to help their families foster healthier relationships with technology," Dalton said, noting December’s presentation on social-media addiction was integrated into health classes to encourage student participation.
Dalton described programs the district has added or expanded. The evidence-based Teen Intervene program, which addresses substance use including vaping through structured sessions that help students build awareness and make behavior-change plans, has been introduced into curriculum. The district also will open a Twilight program at the annex building on the grounds of Wilson beginning Jan. 27 to serve students in grades 9–12 who are school-phobic or need credit recovery; operating hours are planned for 3–6 p.m. to provide a nontraditional environment intended to help students reengage with learning.
The district’s ongoing partnership with Northwell Health includes referrals and facilitated appointments for students with anxiety, depression, school avoidance and situational stressors. Dalton said data reviewed with Northwell showed anxiety-related reasons were the leading cause of referrals. She reported that 78% of students referred for longer-term care through Northwell attended appointments and that the partnership has supported improved attendance and connection to care.
Looking forward, the committee plans more staff training, community information nights, an anniversary presentation on the partnership’s five-year data, and a district wellness walk scheduled for May 3 intended to engage K–12 students and the wider community. Dalton also said the district is working to improve access to mental-health resources on the district website and to strengthen the home–school connection around the Sources of Strength curriculum.
No formal board action was recorded on Jan. 23 concerning mental-health programs; the update was informational. The board and presenters said they would continue developing these efforts and report back as programs mature.
