WRENTHAM — Superintendents Paul Zinni, David Raiche, Allan Cameron and Ingrid Allardi, and Regional Director of Wellness Dot Pearl, are pleased to announce that the King Philip, Plainville, Norfolk and Wrentham school districts will be partnering with INTERFACE Referral Service of William James College to provide students in all four districts with access to outside providers for mental health services.
As students’ mental health concerns continue to trend upward locally and nationally, families may often be unable to access mental health services and professionals outside of their school district. As a result, many students do not receive the services they need.
To assist families in accessing mental health services and professionals for their children, the King Philip, Plainville, Norfolk and Wrentham school districts partnered with INTERFACE Referral Service to connect students with outpatient mental health clinicians in their area.
INTERFACE Referral Service is administered by William James College in Newton. The program helps provide avenues for parents and guardians to find outpatient mental health providers outside of school. The Helpline is available to all students in the four school districts who are dealing with mental health issues. It has been found to be helpful in navigating barriers to access to care.
“Oftentimes school counseling staff are spending a great deal of time seeking available outside providers for families or working with students who would benefit from a higher level of intervention beyond the scope of the school professional,” said Director Pearl. “Having INTERFACE Referral Service to assist families with addressing their child’s mental health needs and identifying matched outpatient mental health providers will enable counselors to work with more of the students in their care during school hours.”
The INTERFACE Helpline is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Families can call to consult with resource and referral counselors about available resources and receive personalized matched referrals for their child. Referral matches are based on specialty need, availability, insurance or cost and location. Once families are provided a matched referral, the INTERFACE resource and referral counselor will follow up with the family within two weeks to check on the status of the referral.
To reach the helpline, call 1-888-244-6843, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
INTERFACE is not a hotline. Families or students in crisis who contact INTERFACE are assessed and referred to a crisis provider, if appropriate. In a mental health or substance use crisis, Riverside Community Care, the area Emergency Service Provider, is available 24/7 at 800-529-5077. Riverside is an alternative to going to an emergency room when in a crisis. Services are provided on the phone or in the home, school or community setting.
To prepare for the launch of the resource and to help staff understand the service when referring families, Tanya Snyder, the clinical supervisor for INTERFACE, reviewed services with administrators and counseling team members from the four districts on Jan. 27. Monday, Feb. 1, was the first day parents/guardians, or school counselors, of the four districts could utilize INTERFACE Referral Services.
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