By Payton Tholstrup

Image courtesy of USD 379

Pawnee Mental Health School-Based Services and USD 379 are working together again this year to offer mental health services to students in the district.

The program was restarted last year, at first only offering services to students at Lincoln and Garfield Elementary and Clay Center Community Middle School (CCCMS). This year, the program is expanding its services to students in all USD 379 buildings, including Wakefield.

The program allows students to meet with mental healthcare providers during school hours. Parents can request these services, or school staff members can refer students.

Lisa Last is the School, Family, and Community Connections Counselor in USD 379. She serves as the liaison between USD 379 and Pawnee Mental Health.

“As students are referred to the program or as parents request the service, I assist families in completing the paperwork and work with Pawnee Mental Health to schedule students,” she said.

The program offers therapy and case management services.

By offering these services at school, the mental health team and school staff can work together and communicate more effectively to meet each student’s needs.

It also removes a barrier for working families who might otherwise have to miss work to transport kids to and from appointments, added Lisa. Students miss less learning time to attend appointments.

“Research tells us that the more coordinated services are, the better the outcomes.”