MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES & INTERVENTION

Mental Health Resources & InterventionWe believe health and wellness are foundational to success. The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's commitment to creating positive school culture means we are continually growing opportunities for students, teachers and families to stay well together, even when the hindrances to wellness are not always easy to see. 

SOCSD offers a variety of mental health resources to 

  • facilitate students' social and emotional learning
  • foster healthy learning environments
  • promote safety, wellness, engagement and excellence
  • support parents and families

STUDENT SUPPORTS & INTERVENTION

School Counselors, Interventionists & Nurses
Full-time grade-level school counselors on each campus work in tandem with school nurses to support and meet the physical and emotional needs of students while they are at school. In addition, SOCSD utilizes interventionists to work with teachers to identify and develop intervention plans to address student learning and behavioral issues.

Handle With Care
The Handle With Care initiative strengthens the relationship between schools and local emergency management personnel to provide administrators and teachers with general information about students who may have experienced trauma or emergency situations outside of school hours. Without sharing details about a child's specific situation, teachers can receive a confidential "handle with care" instruction to alert them to be aware of needs during the school day. The program provides training for teachers and school staff to prepare them for effectively supporting students who may have encountered trauma. 

StopIt Platform
Partnership Middle School and Armstrong Junior High School implemented this platform as a way for students to reach out or seek help anonymously. The health and safety of students is a top priority of the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. This is just one more way that we seek to help our students, and meet them where they are. Students at both schools are trained on how to operate the platform. The platform is available on their school-issued chromebook, but students may also download the mobile app on their phone. When a student submits a report both schools get a notification sent via text message. Any reports of violence or self-harm are immediately reported to school officials via a phone call from StopIt. Administration and counselors are able to view these reports where they will be able to interact with the reports, address concerns, and ask additional questions. Another feature of this app is the ability to upload photos and screenshots to provide additional details. The app also has  a real-time chat feature that puts students in contact with professionals who can help address problems. 

FAMILY SUPPORTS

Free Counseling for Homeless Students & Families
Students who are enrolled in the McKinney Vento Project supporting homeless or displaced children are eligible for free counseling services through Project HELP and Project REACH, housed at the SOCSD Discovery Center. Immediate families members of enrolled students are also eligible to receive free counseling.

Free Counseling for Parents
Free one-on-one or group counseling is available at the SOCSD Discovery Center at 1504 Louisville Street for adults enrolled in parenting classes through Project CARE. For more about services offered at Discovery Center, visit www.starkvillesd.com/discoverycenter

PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

MDE / UMMC Mississippi School-based Telehealth
Through a state-wide partnership with University of Mississippi Medical Center and Mississippi Department of Education, school nurses and counselors may take advantage of free Telehealth opportunities for direct consults with physicians and mental health professionals for students, with parent permission and billing submitted to the family's insurance. In addition to providing diagnostic support for common physical ailments or concerns impacting a student's attendance at school, the Telehealth services can also provide real-time counseling and/or referrals for mental health needs via Zoom calls. One benefit of the Telehealth services is that they can be scheduled around class schedules to minimize loss of learning time. Common student mental health and wellness concerns that can be addressed through Telehealth are anxiety, grief, depression, trauma and self esteem.