Due to confidentiality laws, some information is limited
Imagine a student who experiences trauma at home and feels like they have no one with whom they can confide. Imagine a student feeling so overwhelmed that they cannot concentrate on their studies.
For many students in our public schools, this is an everyday reality.
Center for Human Services (CHS) School-Based Mental Health program bridges the gap for these students in the Edmonds School District. By making access to licensed therapists easy and affordable during school hours, the program greatly reduces barriers to mental health resources. Family Resource Advocates working with student families can start a referral for an assessment appointment or families can also utilize CHS’ walk-in assessment appointments.
“Without the school-based therapists, the fact is many families simply would not access mental health services at all. It can be overwhelming for parents to find an affordable and high-quality therapist who is a good fit for their child, and one who has appointment times that can accommodate working parents. Accessing care through schools removes those barriers. Over the years, we have seen many students go from on the verge of dropping out to successfully graduating with hopes and dreams intact,” Amanda Odell, Associate Director of the Mental Health Department said.
Therapists help clients work through issues such as depression, relationship conflicts, LGBTQIA+ struggles, self-image, stress, suicidal thoughts and more. With the help of grants, CHS can provide services at little to no cost.
Drissa Sangare, a Mountlake Terrace High School therapist, said that it has been rewarding to watch the progress students have made in the three years working with CHS.
Sangare works with students ages 14-19 and is also the CHS Teams Group Coordinator. During his first year, he accepted a case of a student with suicidal thoughts. When Sangare first met the student they identified as a straight male.
“The student got more comfortable with me and opened up about their sexual identity,” Sangare said. Sangare said he was able to help the student work through their trauma and work with other services to provide gender-affirming care after the student came out as a woman.
“CHS provides a holistic approach to mental health services and plugs into school systems to provide students with care,” Sangare said.
CHS serves schools in Edmonds, Mukilteo, Seattle, Northshore and Shoreline school districts.
Through funding from Verdant Health Commission, children throughout the Edmonds School District have free access to mental healthcare resources and more.
Outside of school-based services, CHS provides a multitude of programs and services around mental health, family support, substance use and more.
“We are extremely grateful for all CHS has offered us,” a parent wrote, “In particular [our therapist] has gone above and beyond to help our son. It means so much to us.”
Between October 2023 to April 2024, the CHS School-Based program served 617 individuals within the Edmonds School District, Odell said.
