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Dr. Christy East outlines counseling, crisis response and career programs for McDowell County students
Summary
Dr. Christy East, director of exceptional learners for McDowell County Schools, described district counseling plans, community partnerships, and crisis-response data — including 40 students sent to outside agencies for suicidal ideation and a goal to register 100 families for free Cook Center services.
Dr. Christy East, director of exceptional learners for McDowell County Schools, presented the district's approach to student social-emotional learning and mental-health supports, telling the board the work spans pre-K through 12th grade and pairs school counselors with outside clinical providers.
East said each school counselor completes a state-required comprehensive school counseling plan yearly that aligns with student success standards and academic goals. "So what I'm giving you is just, like, an overview of all of the different things that we have in the county," she said, describing college-and-career week, FAFSA nights at both high schools, and programs such as mock job interviews and an eighth-grade “Get a Life” simulation to teach budgeting and job-readiness skills.
She provided staffing and caseload figures: the district employs eight in-house counselors and has 2,089 students enrolled. East reported that 40 students across pre-K–12 had been sent to outside agencies for suicidal ideation and that 27 students had been referred for assessment related to self-harm. "If that happens and they have to go out and be cleared by a mental health professional... before they can come back to school full time," she said, describing the return-to-school safety planning process.
East described partnerships with community providers — KVC, Southern Highlands, Family Options, Best Life Therapy and the Cook Center — and noted the Cook Center currently provides free parent coaching and family services paid by the state. She said the district’s goal is to have 100 families registered by the end of the year and that 25 families had registered by the end of December.
The director explained the district’s tiered supports: Tier 1 universal developmental guidance lessons; Tier 2 targeted small groups for anxiety, grief or anger; and Tier 3 individualized interventions and referral to outside agencies when appropriate. She also highlighted wraparound services through CSED for children with serious emotional disorders and daily check-in/check-out routines used for students identified as high-risk.
Board members asked how students are identified and referred; East said referrals come from students themselves, teachers or parents and that most suicide-related referrals are for junior-high and high-school students, with rare cases below fourth grade. The presentation concluded with members noting prevalence of self-harm behaviors and counselors’ role in building relationships and responding to crises.
The board did not take further action on the presentation; East invited members to follow up with questions after the meeting.
