ELPS Mental Health Coordinator Presents to School Board

In-school therapy and early intervention are just a couple of the strategies the East Lansing Public Schools (ELPS) District is using to improve mental health among students. 

At the Monday, Dec. 9 East Lansing Board of Education meeting, ELPS Mental Health Coordinator Heather Findley gave the board an update on the district’s mental health programs and initiatives. 

Findley said that middle and high school students are offered social-emotional learning programs that have received positive feedback. The programs put students in small groups of 10-12, where coping strategies and tools to overcome mental health struggles are discussed. Some of the tools mentioned by Findley include mindfulness and relaxation. 

The students are usually referred to the programs by school staff, but some self-initiate their involvement, Findley said. 

Additionally, ELPS offers in-school therapy to some students. Findley said the district looks to target students who have financial or transportation challenges that may prevent them from receiving mental health care outside of school hours. 

This year, there have been 47 students referred for therapy during school hours, with the number of referrals expected to rise to more than 90 by the end of the year, Findley said. 37 students are already attending therapy sessions. 

Findley said the district is working to embed mental health awareness into the school system. Teachers across the district are receiving Youth Mental Health First Aid training, which helps participants recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use issues. 

“Noticing signs and symptoms can be the first step to helping somebody access resources,” Findley said. 

This summer, Youth Mental Health First Aid training will be offered to the broader community, Findley said. 

The district is also stressing that behavioral issues that students display during school hours could be the result of mental health issues or challenges at home. 

“They are not just here as learners, they are here as people first,” Findley said. 

ELPS is using the mySAEBRS (my Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener) survey to identify students in need of mental health support, and gauge district-wide trends. 

Findley said the survey is offered to all ELPS students second grade and older, which is more than 3,000 children. The first survey given this fall received feedback from more than 77% of students in this age group. In February, the district will distribute another survey to students. 

Through mySAEBRS and helping staff recognize mental health issues, Findley said the district hopes to identify and treat mental health challenges before they rise to a crisis level. 

Additionally, Findley said the district will host its second mental health summit in April, after the success of last year’s event.  

East Lansing Educational Foundation donates more than $60,000. 

Also at the Dec. 9 meeting, the East Lansing Educational Foundation (ELEF) presented a check of $63,098 for its Grants For Teachers program. 

Julie Thomas-Beckett, president of ELEF, said the money will help enhance educational opportunities to students throughout the district. East Lansing teachers applied for grants through the ELEF, the more than $60,000 raised will fund these requests. 

Thomas-Beckett praised teachers for their creative ideas outlined in the requests, and said “almost everything” requested will be financed by the grants. No grant requests were entirely denied and some were slightly altered. 

The Grants For Teachers program has existed for 40 years, according to the ELEF’s website. Last year, the program covered the costs of guest speakers, science equipment, faculty dog toys, Model UN Conference fees, library furniture, and much, much more. 

“It’s just really great to be able to support our students in this way, and we’re really proud to do that,” Thomas-Beckett said.