The Clarkesville, Ga.-HABERSHAM County Education Committee has heard a series of presentations that emphasize mental health and student services, including partnerships with community agencies and new school-based initiatives on Monday.
United Way
Candice Holcomb, the president and CEA of Georgia Foothills United Way, told the board members about the organization with her organization.
Holcomb said, “As an educator, you know that school success does not happen in vacuum.” Students bring their lifetime to the classroom from emotional and mental health demands to food anxiety, family stress, and lack of safe after -school options.
Holcomb said UNITED WAY strategically supports local institutions that provide counseling, after -school programs, basic requirements, parent resources and crisis interventions.
“These services have a direct impact on students like we see every day at school, and often step by school resources to stop,” she said.
Superintendent Patrick Franklin thanked HOLCOMB for the organization’s support.
Franklin said, “We offer a very poor group working in our school.” So thank you for what you are doing. “
The two -member meeting was also heard from the Earth mental health experts, Miriam Duncan, Angie Kerr and Kelsey onriezek.
Mental Health Community Partnership
DUNCAN has been a community partnership expansion and a fellow -led program in high school, explaining three priorities: improvement of crisis intervention. She mentioned that six community partners have now provided one or two consultations in the previous year and added that the remote health options have been added for students.
“I am proud to say that there are six community partners who are currently in school.
Duncan said, “It was once or twice in the past, and one of the two people had some part -time and did not fill the position until the last month of the school last year,” Duncan said.
Of the six counselors, the Habersham 9th Academy has one regular person who provides services to high schools, middle schools and success academies. In addition, five of the providers accept Medicaid and two people accept personal insurance.
Suicide
Angie Kerr emphasized the Earth’s new suicide prevention program at Habersham Central High School. 31 students started training as a fellow leader in class designed to increase elasticity and reduce suicide attempts this week.
Kerr said, “This program is a evidence -based suicide prevention program that focuses on hope, health and strengths.
Crisis service
Onriezek told the board of directors to the board of efforts to provide crisis services after Demorest’s Northeast Georgia Medical Center stopped the free crisis last year. The school district has since signed with RIDGEVIEW to provide free remote health evaluation to middle school students.
Onriezek said, “This is a great success for us.” Even if they are not directly visible, we always want students to use any kind of service at the beginning of the school year.
Franklin praised their work to three experts.
“These three amazing employees go over every day for our students.” “I have not had a mental health program, I have one and three, and our new focus will be great for students.”
The board of directors postponed the execution session to discuss the issue of real estate with employees, but did not take any action. The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 pm on October 6th.
