GREENFIELD — Sometimes all a kid needs is a listening ear.
With that in mind, Greenfield-Central Schools have partnered with a mental health provider to offer three free telecounseling sessions to each of its 4,400 students this school year.
“It’s a great option for students that just need someone to talk to,” said Susie Coleman, assistant principal at Greenfield-Central High School.
The corporation contracted with the Bowen Center, a Fort Wayne-based counseling center, to provide a Student Assistance Program offering free telecounseling for students in the 2021-22 school year.
The counseling sessions are private and confidential, said Robin LeClaire, the school system’s director of student services, so teachers and administrators don’t know who or how many students have taken advantage of the program so far.
The past two years have been anything but normal for students, said LeClaire, and free mental health counseling just might help students who are struggling.
“With COVID and many kids going back and forth on virtual and hybrid learning over the past couple of years, we entered into the agreement so that all students would be entitled to three calls for student assistance with the Bowen Center,” said LeClaire, “so that their licensed social workers and counselors could provide some counseling and support for students that might need it during this time.”
The benefit is available district-wide, to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Each call takes less than an hour, said LeClaire, but is designed to provide the support and guidance students might need.
At the end of the third telecounseling session, Bowen Center professionals can give students and parents input on how to proceed with supporting each student’s mental health — whether that’s through continued support and self-growth, counseling or a combination thereof.
No matter how many students participate, LeClaire is happy the school system can provide the mental health benefit for those who need it.
“Right now, I just think a lot of students are feeling isolated with COVID, and with a lot of different things going on, so we want to make sure students have as much support as possible for their mental wellness,” she said.
Kim Kile, head of counseling at Greenfield-Central High School, is thrilled that the option is available
“As a school counselor I love that our district has provided this service for our students, and recognizes that although we are not available 24/7, our students have needs outside of our school hours,” she said.
“We’re providing an opportunity for students to have a high level of mental health support in the moment of a crisis or concern when school is out for the day or we are on a break. It demonstrates such a high level of caring for our students and our families,” she said.
The program was created using federal Title IV money allocated to the school.
“Title IV money is kind of earmarked for providing students with a well-rounded education, and things that have to do with counseling and social work are included in that,” LeClaire said.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, parents or students 18 and over can contact the Bowen Center at 800-342-5653 or at BowenCenter.org.
