Cardinal Grows its Mental Health Programs for Students & Staff
posted December 10, 2021
Last year, our mental health program was highlighted by the Ottumwa Courier. We’re pleased to say that the program has only continued to expand throughout 2021.
Three major changes occurred to the program: a mental health screener, HappyWork was introduced to staff members, and a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum was implemented.
Mental Health Screener
To help identify students who need mental health support, 7th and 10th grade students now take a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire that measures behavioral and emotional difficulties.
If any trends in the data point out a specific area of need, we build classroom lessons and form small groups to offer support in that area.
“For the students who were identified as at risk, the team connected with their parents and requested consent to provide ongoing counseling services,” Michelle Edwards, middle and high school professional counselor, says.
Services will continue to expand with a mentor program and lessons that help students identify a trusted adult in their building. And next year, we hope to add a grade level to the mental health screening.
HappyWork
In late winter of last year, we launched the HappyWork system for our staff members. HappyWork is a digital platform that collects daily happiness scores from our staff members anonymously via text.
“HappyWork has helped staff have a listening ear," Mrs. Edwards says. “We have been able to connect staff to services, support some through difficult times, and problem solve.”
HappyWork gives Mrs. Edwards and Abbey Shelman, our elementary school counselor, the ability to connect with their team members anonymously and support them in areas of need.
“Through HappyWork, we have been able to identify staff who are struggling with mental health, distress, and emotional wellbeing,” explains Mrs. Edwards.
SEL Curriculum
Since launching Project Orange last spring, Mrs. Shelman has expanded the program for our elementary school students with Second Step curriculum. The program offers a holistic approach to SEL with grade-appropriate instructional material. In addition, the Cardinal team is creating a transitional and sequential program for secondary students.
Growing Support
As of December 2021, 47 students receive individual counseling with a school counselor, 20 small groups occur within the district, and 109 students receive therapy services.
“Our numbers continue to grow, and we will continue to build partnerships and find resources for kids and families,” Mrs. Edwards says. “We have developed a cohesive tiered system of support for students at Cardinal.”
Our counseling team consists of Abbey Shelman, elementary counselor; Autumn Deshler, shared middle school counselor; Michelle Edwards, middle school and high school counselor; Tammy Loerzel, River Hills therapist; and Kathy Utterback, GPAEA social worker. This group of team members is dedicated and focused on helping our students grow and access support services.
If you know a student that needs assistance from our services, please fill out our referral form. We will connect the student with the right services and team members to meet their needs.
