“I firmly believe that mental health is your foundation, and when you’re stressed and anxious and experiencing a challenging time, it makes everything else more difficult,” social worker Amanda Serino at Richard Montgomery said. Her office is difficult to spot, hidden in the corner next to the cafeteria, but the room is unforgettable. Soft blues soak through the walls, and the rug melts into a lake of sweetness. The aesthetic decor and furniture fuse the atmosphere into tranquility.
MCPS emphasizes the need for mental health resources and student support through their policies. In August 2021, the county aimed to hire 50 social workers and add a new social emotional learning curriculum. These social workers must meet a variety of standards, such as having a valid license issued by the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners, a Master’s degree in social work, and experience in paid social work for a minimum of five years.
Social workers support the students’ social and emotional needs through group or individual counseling. “One on one support is beneficial because it allows the students to process and talk through the challenges they are experiencing in a confidential and safe environment,” Ms. Serino said. “Having someone to talk to and understand them can help support them in managing other aspects of their life.”
Students are often confused between the roles of a counselor and social worker within their schools. “The biggest difference is that counselors have many students on their caseload, so they don’t have the time to devote the time individually for higher need students,” Ms. Serino said. Counselors deal with issues centered around career readiness, college applications, and scheduling concerns. They prepare high school students with the skills needed to become successful in classes like time management and communication. Students can talk to their counselors about dealing with homework and interpersonal conflicts to relieve any stress they are building up.
However, in more intense situations, a counselor may refer a student to a social worker if there are significant challenges interfering with their life. For example, students might be victims of substance abuse or domestic abuse. Students can also undergo a process of referral from a parent, staff, and themselves. These referrals go through the student well-being team meeting, where the staff discusses the student and identifies the best next steps for them. Every student has unique circumstances, and the staff might determine if they need more academic support from a teacher or if they are eligible for services from a social worker.
Any student is welcome to seek help and talk with a social worker. “Students can stop in when our doors are open and express an interest and find out more information,” Ms. Serino said. “They can talk to any person that they feel comfortable talking to, and they can support by doing an initial referral through the student well-being.”
Another new component to the 2022-23 school year is the addition of 12 wellness centers. In these centers, a team of staff consisting of physicians, mental health therapists, and nurses work together to provide preventative treatment, sick care, and mental health services. Students can access dental care, medication prescriptions, and physical examinations through these services, expanding the traditional services offered by the healthroom. “It is a goal that wellness centers will be at every high school,” Ms. Serino said.
MCPS continues to examine their policies and encourages feedback from students. Recently, the Board of Education is seeking student and parent input about counseling and student mental health through a survey. Participants answer a few questions about the additions they would like to see in the revision of Policy School Counseling Programs and Services IJA.
Mental wellness and academic success come hand to hand, and it is important for students and school leaders to communicate with each other about what improvements they would like to see in the future. “I think this [policy] is a great start. I’m excited to see how this [policy] grows and how it changes to meet needs, and how effectively we can be at supporting students,” Ms. Serino concludes.
Written by Chelsea Zhu of Richard Montgomery High School
Graphic courtesy of Chelsea Ewli-Kwakutse of Watkins Mill High School