The Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio has established a Student Wellness Department to sustain the work implemented through Project AWARE Ohio as well as expand services and support around social and emotional needs. The Student Wellness Department will be implementing a Consultative model to meet the needs of school districts, system partners, and communities through effective consultation, supports, and linkage, and navigation to resources.
The department can enhance and expand existing behavioral health frameworks, supports, and services within the schools. The department will consult with school districts in enhancing school-based mental health services through training opportunities for school staff and information on resources in the areas of threat assessments, suicide protocols, screening tools, social-emotional tiered supports and effective evidence-based programs, mental health and suicide programs, and supports, HB410 Chronic Absenteeism consultation and mediation.
The System Navigator is involved with multi-system youth, as well as any youth at-risk or in need of supports and services. The System Navigator's role is to consult, link, and navigate through cross-system collaboration. The System Navigator serves an important role in assisting parents, school staff, service coordination liaisons, and direct service providers understand resources available to address the social-emotional needs of students and to provide linkage to these services and supports. Another role of the System Navigator is to provide support around HB410 chronic absenteeism and transition planning for youth returning from a hospital, residential, or other settings.