Below is the plan for how Whitehall City Schools will use the Student Wellness and Success Funds and Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid:
Goals:
- Provide increased mental and physical health and social-emotional support for students.
- Organize and coordinate existing programs and supports into a comprehensive district-wide approach.
- Create and leverage community partnerships to provide more services aligned with best practices.
Identified Gaps:
- Limited funding availability for implementing high-quality, evidence-based programs
- Need for comprehensive coordination of existing supports and services
Initiatives:
- Mental Health Services Initiative
- Partner with local mental health providers to expand school-based counseling support and services
- Implement evidence-based programs like Sources of Strength for suicide prevention
- Hire additional school counselors, social workers, psychologists
- Use data like attendance, discipline referrals, counselor caseloads to measure impact
- Physical Health Services Initiative
- Establish a school-based health clinic in partnership with a local hospital/health system
- Provide preventative care, physicals, immunizations, basic medical care on-site
- Hire nurses, medical assistants, partner with pediatricians/nurse practitioners
- Measure impact through data like attendance, visits to the clinic
- Family Engagement Initiative
- Hire interpreters and cultural liaisons to improve support and communication with families
- Provide trainings to staff on cultural competency family engagement
- Develop family resource centers to connect families with school/community services
- Measure family participation rates, survey families on engagement
Success Story: The district's new school-based health clinic has increased access to care for students and families. One parent stated: "Having the clinic at school has been a huge help for my family. My kids can get check-ups, immunizations, and care for minor issues without me having to miss work." Attendance data shows a 5% decrease in chronic absenteeism among students using the clinic's services.
By leveraging multiple funding sources and community partnerships, the district can implement a comprehensive array of services to support the whole child and family.