Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Mental Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
K–8 counselor outlines districtwide approach to student mental health and referrals
Summary
K–8 success coordinator Jay Thompson told the board the district’s K–12 counseling teams used PBIS, Leader in Me and screenings to identify students in crisis; about 20–25 students were flagged for urgent follow-up and a Strengthening Families program will be offered this fall.
Jay Thompson, K–8 success coordinator and school counselor, told the Fairfield Community School District board on May 19 that the district’s K–12 collaborative counseling teams are aligning building approaches to address student needs, from transition and belonging to academic success.
Thompson said counselors use Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), the Leader in Me curriculum, high‑school mentors and daily check‑in/check‑out systems to connect students to adults and reduce behavior disruptions. He described a routine: building staff screen students, provide classroom lessons and small‑group work, and, when needed, make referrals to outside behavioral health providers and community resources.
The counselor highlighted the district’s mental‑health screening this year and the follow‑up work it created: “Several, I would say in the neighborhood of about 20 to 25, needed follow‑up with us based on that screener with urgent mental‑health needs,” Thompson said, noting some students went home the same day for additional care. He added teams walk families through intake and referral paperwork when needed to get counseling or home‑based services started.
Thompson also previewed a Strengthening Families (10–14) program — an Iowa State Extension curriculum he said has been evaluated in academic studies and will be offered free to a first cohort of families this fall. The program runs seven evenings, includes separate parent and youth sessions and family activities, and staff plan to provide meals and community support for participating families.
Board members asked about measurable goals and how the counseling unit assesses impact. Thompson said staff use a combination of screening data, attendance, grades, behavior referrals and student‑connection surveys; student support teams meet roughly every other week to review cases and adjust interventions. He recommended considering dedicated K–4 and 5–8 counseling positions to increase continuity across buildings.
The board thanked Thompson for the presentation and asked staff to continue reporting outcome data as new programs roll out.
The board did not take formal action on staffing changes; further staffing proposals and program budgets will return to the board for consideration.
