West Ottawa Public Schools in Partnership with TCM Counseling
By: Community Foundation H Z
Tags: Grantmaking, Community Foundation, Communitys Endowment, Mental Health, Education

West Ottawa Public Schools in Partnership with TCM Counseling

Bringing the Therapist Office into Schools

The number of children facing mental health issues has increased steadily in recent years. The students at West Ottawa Public Schools have been no exception. While the mental health needs of our students continue to rise, many of them lack access to mental health services, negatively affecting their educational experience and their chances of becoming successful, thriving adults.

A $75,000 grant from CFHZ aims to change that. Students at West Ottawa Public Schools experiencing emotional distress and mental health needs will have access to therapy during the school day. This is particularly beneficial for students who can’t afford counseling or find transportation to a therapist’s office.

Due to the increased mental health needs in schools, students are in need of additional support. Students overwhelmed with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation or have friends who are suffering are unable to truly focus on their school work, leading to lifelong consequences.

A district-wide needs assessment was conducted to identify how many students were experiencing various forms of trauma. From physical and sexual abuse to incarceration of a parent and a host of causes in between, the number of students experiencing trauma is substantial. While West Ottawa has support staff of social workers and counselors, there is a growing need for mental health support.

After learning about the successful collaborations between the TCM School Outreach Program and other area schools, Tanya Uganski, Director of Special Education at West Ottawa Public Schools, reached out to TCM to explore the possibilities of a new partnership.

From left to right: Sarah Lewakowski, Executive Director of TCM Counseling and Tanya Uganski, Director of Special Education at West Ottawa Public Schools

“West Ottawa is a wonderfully diverse school and it is something we celebrate.” Tanya said. “We are committed to providing the mental health resources for our students and we are fortunate for the community support.”

In the beginning of 2018, West Ottawa and TCM launched a pilot program in the schools to offer limited counseling services in the high school, middle schools, and three elementary schools. This pilot outreach program enables West Ottawa to address some of the mental health needs of the students who have complex challenges and are not currently receiving these services.

The TCM School Outreach Program includes individual counseling, group counseling, and suicide prevention in response to the needs of students who would otherwise go without. By removing the barriers of cost and transportation, TCM provides professional counseling, suicide prevention, and support not only to the students, but also to staff and parents.

QPR (Question Persuade Refer) Suicide Prevention training is provided to help empower the students and staff to recognize the initial warning signs. Sarah Lewakowski, executive director at TCM, says training has been especially powerful when presented to students.