Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, May 5-11, 2019

May 2nd, 2019

HCPSS joins communities across the country in observing Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. HCPSS endeavors to provide all students with comprehensive supports, with every adult playing a strong role in their social-emotional well-being.

By embracing family and community partnerships, the school system is better equipped to nurture the well-being of students. HCPSS continues to expand student access to mental health resources through school-based mental health services, leveraging community providers and resources.

The following are HCPSS staff and community members who provide supports. When in doubt, students and families can reach out to their school counselor as a first point of contact.

• School counselors: Provide a comprehensive program encompassing college/career, social-emotional and academic guidance.
• School psychologists: Offer counseling, crisis intervention, behavioral support and assessment.
• Nurses and health assistants: Coordinate medical case management and provide expertise on the health needs of the school community.
• Pupil personnel workers: Provide intervention and case management services to students experiencing homelessness, foster care, guardianship/custody concerns and more.
• Alternative educators: Support students with behavioral and academic challenges through case management services, parent outreach and skill development.
• Social workers, with community providers: Address the therapeutic needs of students through direct intervention, staff development and schoolwide initiatives piloted at 28 schools; and serve students with or without insurance, with support from the Howard County Health Department and Horizon Foundation.
• Teachers, administrators and other school staff: Cultivate the learning environment by engaging students and encouraging student voice.
• Black Student Achievement Program, Hispanic Achievement Program, and Office of International Student and Family Services: Connect students, families and staff with academic, cultural, social-emotional supports and leverage community partners to provide resources.
• Student Support Teams: Collaborate to connect students and families with in-school and community resources that address their social-emotional, academic and behavioral needs.
• Instructional Intervention Teams: Support teachers, so students can succeed in the classroom.
• Superintendent’s Mental Health Community Subcabinet: A group of community leaders who help set the vision on student mental well-being efforts.
• Mental Health Community Advisory Council: Staff and community providers who help guide and implement mental health initiatives.

For additional information, visit our Mental Health and Wellness page to read about age appropriate behavior, warning signs, external resources and more.

Read highlights on how some HCPSS schools are nurturing children’s mental health during this awareness week and throughout the year.