West Virginia Schools Enhance Mental Health Services for Students

School districts across West Virginia are significantly expanding mental health services for students, launching a range of programs aimed at addressing emotional and behavioral needs. These initiatives include dedicated social-emotional teams and partnerships with community-based therapeutic organizations, reflecting a growing commitment to student well-being.

In Berkeley County, every school is equipped with a counselor and a structured counseling curriculum, according to Jessica Alfonso, the executive director of organizational development and student learning experiences. She emphasized the importance of these services for student success. “Every school has a counselor and they have a school counseling curriculum,” Alfonso stated. “They provide student support services to help students be successful in school. Key indicators of success are attendance, academics, and decreased discipline referrals.”

The Communities in Schools program is also active in Berkeley County, working closely with students and their families to establish healthy routines. “This year, they’re primarily focusing on attendance and getting students in the buildings,” Alfonso noted. The program encourages parents to implement structured morning and evening routines, which can significantly impact students’ ability to attend school regularly.

Restorative practices are another focus area within these school systems. “Last year, I was heavily focused on restorative practices,” Alfonso added. Counselors and social workers received training on these concepts to help foster a safe classroom environment. The aim is to repair any harm and promote positive relationships among students.

In neighboring Jefferson County, a dedicated social and emotional support team enhances mental health initiatives. Lee Ebersole, the director of social and emotional support, mentioned that their approach is interdisciplinary, benefiting from community support. “We have a dedicated social and emotional support team, and we can take a pretty strong interdisciplinary approach to the work,” he explained. The county’s levy includes earmarks specifically for social, emotional, and behavioral health initiatives.

Ebersole noted that the Communities in Schools program also plays a critical role in Jefferson County, helping to meet the mental health needs of students. Currently, there are 11 facilitators in the county, with additional staff assigned at the high school level due to a higher student population.

Many school systems in West Virginia utilize a multi-tiered support system for mental health. “If a teacher, parent, or counselor identifies a student in need, our staff will initiate tier one and tier two interventions first,” Alfonso explained. These interventions may include one-on-one check-ins, group therapy, or providing community resources to families. If further assistance is needed after six weeks, students may be referred for services through Project Aware, which offers virtual therapeutic support.

In Jefferson County, Ebersole highlighted the importance of school-based therapeutic services provided through community partners. “We use that primarily through community partners,” he stated. Additionally, they have a role called the Service Options Specialist (SOS), a licensed counselor who assists families in navigating both the school system and community-based support options.

Feedback from the community about mental health programs has been overwhelmingly positive. Patrick Patton, coordinator of behavioral health in Berkeley County, shared that the accessibility of services has been well-received. “We’ve had nothing but positive feedback regarding the mental health services in Berkeley County Schools,” he said. “We are ensuring barriers do not stand in the way of families and students accessing mental health care.”

School nurses also play a vital role in identifying and addressing mental health concerns. Ebersole pointed out that each school has both a counselor and a nurse available. “The school nurse is often the first line of defense in terms of mental health issues, so we’ve invested in that work,” he noted.

Community involvement is encouraged as well. Alfonso mentioned that school websites feature referral forms for social workers or school counselors, allowing concerned individuals to seek help for students. Programs like Sources of Strength, which is a student-led suicide prevention initiative, further empower students to identify and utilize their personal strengths.

Looking to the future, officials aim to expand these mental health services to include family support. Alfonso expressed a desire to create a coalition of therapy providers for in-person treatment, recognizing that not all students are suited for virtual therapy. “What we’d really like to do is create a coalition of therapy providers for in-person therapy,” she said.

Ebersole echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our primary and most important concern is the children, but we’re also aware that sometimes the parents themselves could greatly benefit from being directly involved in a family approach to therapy.” This holistic approach to mental health underscores the commitment of West Virginia school districts to foster not only the well-being of students but also their families.