A partnership between the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) and the Sacramento County Department of Health Services has placed mental health clinicians in more than 60 local schools. The goal for SCOE’s successful School-Based Mental Health and Wellness program—which lessens the stigma associated with mental health needs and helps students get support to succeed in school and life—is to reach all 300-plus schools across the county. The sustainable funding model means the innovative program can be adopted by other counties and states.
In the aftermath of the devastating fires that tore through Southern California neighborhoods in January, a team of mental health clinicians from Sacramento has traveled to offer support at schools in the Pasadena area this week, providing something no disaster can take away: care, connection, and hope.
Hope in the Wake of Loss
In partnership with the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), SCOE was able to deploy clinicians to provide a range of support services for Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) students, who were some of the most impacted by the fires. SCOE clinicians have been able to help students manage their emotional and psychological well-being, and help them manage anxiety, depression, and stress. The health and wellness staff have also been collaborating with teachers, parents, and school staff to help create and maintain supportive learning environments and help connect students with community resources. Their mission is simple but powerful: provide immediate crisis intervention, connect families with basic needs resources, and ensure long-term mental health support is within reach.
SCOE Clinician Nicole Kozycz faced a sobering reality in one Altadena Elementary class, which was relocated to another campus due to fire damage. Of the 22 students, 18 had lost their homes. The teacher, still reeling from the devastation herself, still shows up for her class each day with courage and care. SCOE has offered comfort, structure, and targeted support for both the teacher and her young students.
Similar support has been offered across the area:
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At Webster Elementary, Clinician Jennifer Perez has helped students regain a sense of safety and routine.
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Associate Clinician Allison Bachelder has given teens a safe space to grieve and heal at Marshall Fundamental School.
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At Pasadena High, Associate Clinician Frank Peace, Jr. has offered trauma-informed counseling to students balancing academic stress with personal upheaval.
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Clinician Erica Gavidia at Sierra Madre Elementary, Clinician Kathleen Horsey at Norma Coombs Elementary, and Associate Clinician Raya Singh at San Rafael Elementary have created calm out of chaos, one student at a time.
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At Rose City High, Associate Clinician Karla Cruz Solache has helped older students find grounding, even as their worlds have been turned upside down.
SCOE Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator Beatriz Alcazar Alvarez has led the compassionate response, overseeing the logistics of the trip and supporting the visiting clinicians. “It’s been incredible to witness this dynamic team step up with such compassion to support students and families in Pasadena,” she said. “No matter where they are, inside or outside Sacramento County, they are dedicated to supporting others.”
It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of great loss. Thanks in part to SCOE support, though, Southern California schools are standing strong and moving forward.