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Report: School-based counseling program reports reduced symptoms, high satisfaction but funding gaps remain
Summary
Family Service Agency presented its 2023–24 school-based mental-health report to Carpinteria Unified, citing symptom reductions on pre/post measures, high client satisfaction (average ~3.7/4), 867 social-work contacts and 61 individual/group social-work cases; board discussed funding shortfalls as COVID-era dollars expired.
At the Sept. 24 board meeting, Ashley Labastore of Family Service Agency (FSA) presented the 2023–24 school-based counseling report, telling the board that outcome measures showed reductions in symptoms after services and that client satisfaction averages were in the high 3.7 range on a 4-point scale.
Labastore outlined how services were delivered across school sites: therapists provided direct services (total therapists’ caseloads included 19 at Aliso, 22 at Carpinteria Middle School, 22 at Carpinteria High School and several at Summerland and intensive-in-school programs) and three social workers provided 61 individual/group social-work cases and approximately 867 informal contacts (consultations with staff, parents or brief crisis contacts). Labastore said about 250 students completed the SOS (Signs of Suicide) screening at middle and high school levels, leading to roughly 30 follow-ups.
When asked whether ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) questionnaire totals were up or down since COVID, Labastore said she would need to review past reports to provide a trend comparison. She noted anecdotally that depression, isolation and social-media–related issues appear more prominent since COVID and that many adolescents answering the ACEs questionnaire reported three or more experiences.
Board members thanked FSA for its services and expressed disappointment that COVID-era funding had ended; the superintendent and board said they continue to pursue grants to restore positions. Labastore confirmed that individual counseling requires parental consent except where students are legally able to self-consent; she reiterated that students are not forced into services.
Public commenters asked for clarity about whether reported totals reflect events or unique students; Labastore clarified that individual/group totals indicate the number of students served while informal contacts represent events. Several commenters also requested future clarifications about how referring staff are updated on student progress.
