Focus: Strengthen the student's social, emotional and/or behavioral adaptation within the classroom.
The Mental Health Service team provides school-based services to students, their families and to schools. Services are for students who are experiencing significant difficulties in social, emotional, and behavioral functioning that are interfering with participation in the learning environment. The range of services may include:
- Assessment that may focus on the individual, the family or both (e.g., classroom observation, reviewing the student's cumulative file, interviewing the teacher, family and student)
- Consultation (e.g., to schools)
- Psycho-educational and therapy groups
- Advocacy (e.g., on behalf of the student, the family, and/or the school)
- Accessing psychiatric and/or pediatric consultations and other hospital based or community services
The general goal of the mental health service is to improve, and if possible restore, a student's ability to succeed with learning in the classroom. The mental health service is a non-crisis service.
Parents/legal guardians are encouraged to play an active role in the mental health service being provided to their children. For example, they are typically asked to meet with a therapist and to provide information that would work to improve their child's success in the classroom.
The best results happen when parents/legal guardians are able to:
- Team with the classroom teacher to discuss their child's needs
- Participate in ongoing communication with the teacher and mental health therapist
- Practice new skills with their child
- Work together with their child's school to try out new ideas
Parents/legal guardians are encouraged to contact the mental health therapist coming to their child's school with any questions they may have.
