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District wellness coordinator highlights mental‑health programs, HRSA grant impact and promising survey results
Summary
Coordinator Amy Masetchko presented an annual health and wellness report highlighting Teen World Mental Health Day, PAX Good Behavior Game adoption, Sources of Strength suicide‑prevention initiatives, a Kramer Breakfast Club, and a HRSA 4‑year $2 million grant that funded multiple programs; she reported 85% of students in a nicotine diversion program decreased use.
Amy Masetchko, Talawanda City’s health and wellness coordinator, delivered a detailed report on the district’s prevention and mental‑health work on June 18, describing new and continuing programs funded in part by a four‑year HRSA behavioral health grant.
Masetchko highlighted school‑led and youth‑driven efforts: Teen World Mental Health Day at the middle and high schools, Every Kid Healthy Week at elementary schools, adoption of the PAX Good Behavior Game across all elementary buildings, and Sources of Strength campaigns led by students. She described Family Wellness Nights piloted with Miami University partners and the Kramer Breakfast Club, which provided breakfast and enrichment and reported gains in engagement and reading interest.
On grant funding, Masetchko said the district’s HRSA consortium award was a $2 million, four‑year investment that ends Aug. 30, 2026; the district is applying for a new HRSA opportunity with proposals due July 8. She also reported program outcomes: the Second Chance web‑based alternative to suspension for nicotine policy violations is a two‑hour intervention taken at school; according to Masetchko, "85% of students reported decreasing use following this class," and most participants rated the program’s helpfulness around 8 on a 1–10 scale.
Masetchko shared results from a biennial student wellness survey (grades 7–12, 925 respondents), noting positive trends since 2023 but continued needs: about one‑third of students reported frequent nervousness or anxiety, 66% said at least one adult at school cares about them while only about 30% said they could discuss personal problems with an adult at school. She said the Health Coordinating Council will work with student advisory groups to interpret data and design responses.
Why it matters: The report outlines district investments and outcomes in prevention, mental‑health supports and family engagement that inform staffing, grant‑seeking and program continuation decisions. The end of the current HRSA award and the application deadline for new funding create a near‑term decision point for sustaining several initiatives.
The board thanked Masetchko for the presentation and asked follow‑up questions about expanding Breakfast Club models to other elementary schools.
