This program allows the community clinicians to come into our school buildings in order to co-facilitate small groups, offer staff members consultation, offer staff professional development, and more. An Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) blends our school behavior system (PBIS) with a mental health system of support to improve educational outcomes for all students. There is an emphasis on prevention, early identification, and intervention of the social, emotional, and behavior needs of the students. Family and community partner involvement is critical to this framework. This is the link between education and mental health systems and staff.

 

Resources Available with our Interconnected Systems Framework:

  • 1 co-facilitated group (8 hrs total) per semester for each school
  •  Staff Professional Development
  • 1 booth at each Parent/Teacher Conference
  •  Attendance at 4 School Counselor Meetings (Elementary, MS, HS)
  •  DCLT meetings
  •  Consultation Time for any staff member

 

Co-facilitated groups available:

Coping Skills

Resilience

Emotion Regulation

Social Skills

Self Care

NEW: Small group with a miniature therapy horse

NEW: Girls Group/Guys Group (middle school or high school) (virtual)

NEW: Social Skills Group (virtual)

NEW: Foster Parents Support and Education Group (virtual)

NEW: DBT Skills for Teens and Adolescents (virtual)

NEW: Narrative and Art Therapy (virtual)

NEW: Mindfulness for Adolescents and Teens (virtual)

 

PD Opportunities for staff:

Mindfulness/yoga

Wellness/Self-care/Mental Health, etc. as requested

NEW: Common Mental Health Issues in Schools (virtual)

NEW: Anxiety (virtual)

NEW: Depression (virtual)

NEW: Autism- we have a student version and a school staff version of this (virtual)

NEW: ADD/ADHD (virtual)

NEW: Understanding Suicide and Self Harm in Youth (virtual)

NEW: Understanding and Supporting Trauma in Schools (virtual)

NEW: Supporting LGBTQ+ Population in Schools (virtual)

NEW: Tools for Your Toolbox- Classroom Strategies to Support Self-Regulation (virtual)

TESTIMONIALS

As a parent having the School Based Mental Health available has been very helpful with my child.  The process has gone smoothly from the initial contact to being able to choose a therapist that may work best with my child to the therapist working directly with my child.  This is also helpful that they are able to come directly to my child at the school so that they are missing less school and I as a parent need to miss less work as well.  Overall the whole experience has been a positive one for both myself and my child.
CFAUSD Parent
Cardinal Care takes the frustration out of making the initial connection with a mental health therapist and allows for services to occur in both the office setting or, if appropriate, the school setting.
SBMH Mental Health Therapist
School-based mental health services allow a child to receive much needed services regularly without the inconvenience of scheduling around after school activities or parents having to take time off work.
SBMH Mental Health Therapist
As a therapist, having the School Based Mental Health available for students is very important in many aspects. School is an area where children spend a great amount of their time and the schools are able to work with the therapists to help in any areas that they may be struggling in.  The schools have all been very open with working with me as a therapist and the children are able to still get services that are needed for either home or school issues without having to miss more time at school since the therapy is able to be done right at the school settings.  Being able to provide this service for families is a great asset for everyone involved.
School Based Mental Health Therapist
We have more kids than ever receiving care and it is largely because of your work with families and your follow-through! I really appreciate having the Mental Health Navigator position because so many more of our students are receiving therapy.
CFAUSD Elementary School Counselor
You would go to the doctor for a rash, this is just another part of your body that needs to be taken care of.
CFAUSD Parent