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Date: 4/7/2022
HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM – Students in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD) that are struggling with mental health issues now have a new resource at their disposal.
HWRSD has partnered with Mental Health Associates of Springfield (MHA) to embed a licensed mental health counselor in the school district to assist students. The program is funded by a one-time grant of $115,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money secured by state Rep. Brian Ashe. It is the first such program in a Western
Massachusetts school district, although similar programs are fairly common in districts in the central and eastern parts of the state.
“Mental health [issues have] gotten increasingly larger and larger,” among school-aged children, said HWRSD Superintendent Albert Ganem.
Kim Lee, vice president of resource and development branding at MHA agreed. She said there is a “growing need” for children’s mental health services. She said 22 to 30 percent of students identify themselves as “at risk” for mental health struggles and half of school counselors have caseloads that include students with anxiety, depression and self-harm behaviors.
“Emotional and behavioral health has been impacted by the [coronavirus] pandemic,” Lee said, and it has “impaired school performance.” She tearfully described the program as, “a long time coming,” and said the services will be “life-changing” for children.
HWRSD Mental Health Community Resource and Training Coordinator, Kerri O’Connor, explained that Katie Sarno, a clinician with MHA, will be placed in the district for three days each week. O’Connor said the program will target at-risk students in the middle and high school grades. That is where the “greatest need” exists, she said.
Director of Student Services Gina Roy said Sarno will be able to “go above and beyond” the services offered by school counselors.
O’Connor said Sarno will be able to see up to 25 students per week who school counselors feel would benefit from in-house therapy. O’Connor said the parents are contacted and involved in the decision making regarding their child’s care. She has been referring these students to outside mental health services, but those organizations often have waitlists.
“We know there’s a gap between when symptoms disrupt academic achievement,” and when help is received, said Gina Kahn, director of Safe Schools/Healthy Students.
O’Connor explained that students who are suicidal or in crisis are referred to emergency services, rather than to school counselors or to Sarno. “We take that very seriously,” she said.
O’Connor also stressed that students will not be pulled from academic classes to meet with Sarno, but from blocks of time between instructional periods. The students’ mental health will not come at the expense of their education, she said. The services will continue past the end of the school year into the summer.
Parents who would like to learn more about mental health or community resources can reach out to O’Connor directly at 566-3172 or koconnor@hwrsd.org.
“I understood the need early on,” said Ashe, adding that the pandemic “put a spotlight” on mental health issues among school-age children. He said a large reason for this is the lack of socialization during the height of the pandemic – something youth need to develop.
While Ashe has a hand in earmarking funds for various projects, “Some really hit you here,” he said, with his hand over his heart. “I know how much this is going to help.”
Joel McAuliffe, deputy chief of staff for state Sen. Eric Lesser, praised Ashe’s work. “There’s no greater partner for the district than Rep. Ashe. He has worked tirelessly.”
Aaron Osborne, director of finance, operations and human resources, said, “I’ve taught in districts where students have more challenges.” He spoke about students being “available” for learning. “I can’t expect them to be available for learning if they haven’t eaten since lunch or if they had to figure out where they were sleeping the night before. Part of my job was to make sure students had what they needed to learn.”
Mental health wellness is a large part of that, he said.
Ganem said, “This is such a need for our families. I hope this is just a seed that will continue to grow.” Ashe acknowledged that the funding was a one-time earmark but expressed hope that its success would show how much the services are needed.