Santa Fe Public Schools wellness office outlines supports for students and families

Joe Abeyta, host of the Insight Santa Fe Public Schools podcast, introduced Assistant Director Jen Jefferson and Director Sue O'Brien of the district’s Office of Student Wellness and asked them to explain what the office does.

Sue O'Brien said the office centers its work on students’ health, safety and connection to school, aiming to remove or address barriers that keep children from learning. "We work all of our work is really centered around the students…making sure that they come to school feeling healthy, being healthy, feeling self safe, and certainly connected to their school and, ready to learn," O'Brien said.

O'Brien outlined that the office coordinates school counselors, nurses, restorative-justice staff and program coordinators who are embedded in schools and available to students and families. She said the office supports students experiencing housing and food instability, pregnant and parenting teens, and other circumstances that affect attendance and learning.

Both leaders emphasized the office’s role as a connector: families can start with a school counselor, principal or nurse and the office will help navigate services or link families to program coordinators. "We are here for them," O'Brien said, urging parents and students to reach out early rather than wait until a crisis.

The episode closed with the host thanking the guests and encouraging listeners to contact school-based staff or the Office of Student Wellness to learn more about available programs.