mental health

Medway Public Schools Invites Parents to Attend Film Screening, Panel About Screen Time and Stress Resilience in Teenagers

⋅ Client News, School News ⋅ , , , , , , , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Medway Public Schools
Armand Pires, Superintendent
45 Holliston St.
Medway, MA 02053

 

For Immediate Release

Monday, Sept. 30, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Medway Public Schools Invites Parents to Attend Film Screening, Panel About Screen Time and Stress Resilience in Teenagers

MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires would like to invite parents to attend the district’s screening of “Screenagers: Next Chapter” next month. Parents will be able to watch the film and hear from a panel of experts to learn about how screen time may be affecting their teenagers.

WHEN:

Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7-8:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Medway High School auditorium, 88 Summer St.

WHAT:

Hosted by Medway’s T.H.R.I.V.E. and SEPAC, parents are invited to attend a screening of “Screenagers: Next Chapter.”

The film follows a physician who tries to find a way to help her own teenagers with their mental and emotional well-being. The film, which includes input from brain researchers, psychologists and other thought-leaders, explores how teenagers’ well-being is impacted by screens and how parents and schools can help teenagers develop skills to overcome mental and emotional health challenges.

The film will be shown to all Medway middle and high school students during school that day.

T.H.R.I.V.E. and SEPAC are hosting the event because student data shows that over the last several years anxiety has been one of the greatest health concerns. This rise in student anxiety is correlated with an increase in screen time and social media use. The groups hope that having both students and parents watch the film will initiate a discussion about screen time and its impact on mental health.

“Having a conversation with your child about mental health and screen time can be challenging,” Medway Public Schools Director of Wellness Dr. Ryan Sherman said. “However, it is our hope that by both parties watching the same film on the same day, it will provide a jumping-off point toward a discussion that allows the parent and student to share their experiences and thoughts about these issues.”

Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion. The panel will feature the following experts in the field of mental health and screen time: Rose Cheyette from Samaritans Inc., Medway Public Schools Technology Integration Specialist Ryan Camire and both a high school and elementary school social worker.

“One of our most important priorities as a district is the wellness of our students,” Superintendent Pires said. “Students are usually attached to their electronics so it’s important that they and their parents understand how screen time can affect them and what they can do to ensure it doesn’t negatively affect their well-being.”

About Medway T.H.R.I.V.E.:

Medway T.H.R.I.V.E. (Tools for Health, Resiliency, Inclusiveness, Vitality and Empowerment) is a committee dedicated to providing wellness-related, family enrichment opportunities to the Medway community. T.H.R.I.V.E. is comprised of a cross-sectional group of Medway Public School administrators, teachers and staff, as well as numerous parent representatives.

About Medway SEPAC:

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council advises the school committee on matters that affect the education of students with disabilities and provides input on district special education programs.

###

Milford School District Hires Staff to Support Social Emotional Learning Goals of Strategic Plan

⋅ Client News, School News ⋅ , , , , , , , , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

 Milford School District
Jessica Huizenga, Superintendent
100 West St.
Milford, NH 03055

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Milford School District Hires Staff to Support Social Emotional Learning Goals of Strategic Plan

MILFORD— Superintendent Jessica Huizenga is pleased to announce that the district has created several positions and made new hires in an effort to facilitate its enhanced efforts support student’s social emotional well-being and growth.

The district has created three new social worker positions and a second mental health therapist position, and has also hired a new school psychologist. All five new employees will begin their new positions on Monday, Aug. 26.

The district’s new strategic plan seeks to address students’ mental health needs and support the development of their social emotional skills. Over the next five years, the district will implement curriculum and classroom expectations that will reinforce social emotional skills such as self awareness, social awareness, self-management, relationship skills and responsible decision making. Effective skills as outlined in the state adopted work-based competencies and those outlined in the district’s Portrait of a Graduate will be integrated throughout the district as well. The district will also provide staff professional development opportunities and offer wrap around services for families looking for support outside of school.

All five new hires will also take part in a district-wide and school-based tiered system of behavioral support teams, oversee behavioral interventions and assist in the development and implementation of individual and personalized behavioral support plans for students.

“Districts all over the nation are working hard to address mental health and social emotional learning,” Superintendent Huizenga said. “As we create these new positions, bring in new mental health professionals, expand our partnerships with social service agencies and put wrap around services for families in place, we’re taking a tremendous step forward in meeting the needs of our students and their families.”

The district’s newest mental health therapist, Chris Joy, will support the new Therapeutic Behavioral Program at the Jacques Memorial Elementary School and Heron Pond Elementary School.

Joy, of Mason, has counseling and peer support experience, a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Capella University and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a focus in early childhood behavior from Kaplan University.

Beginning this school year, the district will also have a social worker assigned to each school. The district’s newest social workers include Erin Richardson, who will join staff at Milford Middle School; Stephanie Bielik, who will work at Heron Pond Elementary School; and Tracy Holland, who will support students at Jacques Memorial Elementary School.

Richardson, of Fremont, has worked since August 2017 as a project IMPACT counselor at the Youth Council in Nashua, and has a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree, both in social work from the University of New Hampshire. Bielik has worked as a district social worker at Pelham School District since May 2017, and has a master’s degree in social work from Wheelock College and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Milligan College.

Over her 13 year career in social work, Holland has worked as a school social worker at Nashua School District, as a clinical coordinator at Riverbend Community Health, and as a clinic supervisor, clinic manager and clinician at various locations. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Augsburg College and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport.

The district has also hired a new school psychologist, Yesenia Schuler, who will work with kindergarten and first grade students, as well as high school students.

Schuler has worked previously as a school psychologist at the Pelham, Litchfield, Newfound Area, Mascoma Valley Regional and Barrington School Districts, and as a special education teacher/case manager at Inter-Lakes Middle Tier and Laconia Middle School. She holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University, a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manhattan College and certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership and school psychology from Plymouth State University.

###

Winthrop Police Sergeant Recognized for Work Supporting Community Mental Health

⋅ Client News, Police News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Winthrop Police Department
Chief Terence M. Delehanty
3 Metcalf Square
Winthrop, MA 02152

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Winthrop Police Sergeant Recognized for Work Supporting Community Mental Health

Sgt. Sarko Gergerian (right) was presented with his award by John C. Barber, LICSW, Western Massachusetts Area Forensic Director and Statewide Coordinator of CIT-TTAC Programs with the Department of Mental Health.
(Courtesy Photo)

WINTHROP — Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to announce that a Winthrop Police Sergeant was recognized last month for his work advancing mental health outreach community-wide.

Sgt. Sarko Gergarian was honored with the Exemplary Performance in Law Enforcement award on Tuesday, June 11, at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s Mental Health and Law Enforcement Conference.

He was recognized at the awards ceremony for his deep commitment to providing resources for those in the Winthrop community who are suffering from mental health related issues. Sgt. Gergerian works in close partnership with the town’s Department of Public Health and Clinical Services to conduct proactive outreach and connect with those in need to overcome their personal mental health challenges.

Over the past four years, Sgt. Gergerian has taken on responsibilities well above and beyond his duties as a police officer by leading the department’s innovative Community Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR) team. He’s also obtained a master’s degree in mental health counseling and has distinguished himself through his leadership in responding to mental health crises in the community.

“Sgt. Gergerian has been a tremendous force for positive change in the way our department — and our community as a whole — addresses mental illness,” Chief Delehanty said. “He’s extremely deserving of this honor, though I know he’s motivated solely by the potential his work has to improve the lives of others.”

The Winthrop Police Department’s renewed approach to mental illness began with a meeting between Sgt. Gergerian and Chief Delehanty, where the former suggested the department use all of the data at its disposal to support those in the community struggling with mental illness. With Chief Delehanty’s blessing, he immediately got to work.

“I asked if we were doing anything other than traditional policing with the police information we have, and I asked him if, on shift, I could use that information to identify people who were having struggles and follow up,” Sgt. Gergarian said. “My chief allowed me to use police information in a radically different way, as a source of information for people who need help. It’s developed into a wraparound program with a multidisciplinary team.”

Sgt. Gergerian was nominated for the honor by Public Health Director Meredith Hurley, who praised his compassion, poise, and empathetic nature, while also noting that his commitment to mental health and law enforcement work — and the intersection of the two — is second to none.

###

 

Medfield Public Schools Seeing Improved Mental Health Wellness with Use of INTERFACE Referral Services

⋅ Client News, School News ⋅ , , , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Medfield Public Schools
Jeffrey J. Marsden, Superintendent
459 Main St., Unit 3,
Medfield, MA 02052

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Medfield Public Schools Seeing Improved Mental Health Wellness with Use of INTERFACE Referral Services

MEDFIELD — Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden is pleased to announce that the Medfield Public School’s use of the INTERFACE Referral Services program has continued to grow, while helping to improve the mental health and wellness of students throughout the district and beyond.

Since November 2017, over 110 Medfield students and residents have accessed the INTERFACE Referral Service Helpline. The service, provided by William James College in Newton, provides a referral helpline that parents and residents can call to assist them with navigating the mental health system by streamlining the process of finding mental health professionals in their area.

The helpline is available to all Medfield Public Schools students and residents of the town who are dealing with mental health issues.

“INTERFACE has helped ease the burden of families during what can be incredibly  stressful times,” said Medfield School Committee Chair Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke, who also serves on the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention. “It can sometimes take countless phone calls and hours on hold trying to find the right therapist that is covered by your insurance and works within your schedule. INTERFACE helps immensely to ease those burdens and streamline the process. We are so very fortunate in Medfield to have this service available to those who need it.”

Sara Drumm, the parent representative for the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention, believes that access to the referral helpline has helped introduce people to the wide variety of local resources that are available to people struggling with mental health issues.

“Since we have introduced this program in our town, we have worked to spread the word and let our community know that INTERFACE and other resources exist to support and promote mental health and wellness,” Drumm said. “Our discussions and updates have gone a long way towards reducing the stigma around this topic. What we have seen since this program has been available is that it is being heavily utilized by people of all ages, including our youth. I believe this is important to our school community as we know that many of our kids struggle to balance their many commitments during their school years and beyond, and this is understandably a difficult balance that can lead to anxiety and other health issues for many.”

Chelsea Goldstein-Walsh is the Interim Director of Medfield Youth Outreach and a member of the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention. For her, the value of the program is immense when considering that it is open to every student and resident in Medfield who is seeking assistance with issues of mental health.

“The INTERFACE program reduces barriers to access for mental health treatment, which supports the overall mental health and emotional wellness of the entire Medfield community,” Goldstein-Walsh said.

To reach the helpline, call 1-888-244-6843, ext. 1, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The INTERFACE program has made a great impact on the overall social-emotional wellness at our schools. One thing we’ve learned from the data we have received thus far, along with the people from INTERFACE telling us, is that Medfield has done a great job of spreading the word about this fantastic service and we hope that continues,” Superintendent Marsden said. “When asked where people who utilize the program heard about INTERFACE, the responses run the gamut from our schools to town employees to state organizations to local service providers and groups in town. It’s truly great to see that people are aware of this vital service and are using it to get the help they need for themselves and their loved ones.”

For those who would like to donate to the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention, please visit www.medfieldfoundation.org/give.

###

1 2 3 4 5 >»