School-Based Mental Health Therapy Program

What is the School-Based Mental Health Therapy Program?

The School-Based Mental Health Therapy Program is responsible for:

  • providing therapy services to screen for therapeutic service provision
  • assessing level of services needed based off of screening
  • providing treatment using clinically researched based models of therapy to address trauma, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders
  • providing individual, group, and family therapy sessions in the school setting
  • providing support regarding any life event or experience where students require assistance processing, coping, and managing emotions
  • providing support for students who feel sad for an extended amount of time, lack motivation, and have experienced trauma 
  • teaching students coping skills to deal with life stressors during therapy sessions that take place within the school building

School-Based Licensed Mental Health Professionals are:

  • licensed by the State of Virginia as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • provide support for the student within the educational setting
  • make recommendations to assist the student and their family receive additional support in the community
  • assist school personnel in identifying issues or mental health concerns which pose a barrier to a student’s success

Who is eligible to receive School-Based Mental Health Therapy Services?

Newport News Public Schools students are eligible for mental health therapy services with a School-Based Licensed Mental Health Professional. Parents or Legal Guardians must sign a written consent for treatment prior to implementation of School-Based Mental Health Therapy services. 

How do you request School-Based Mental Health Therapy Services?

School-Based Mental Health Therapy services can be requested by self referral, student referral, staff referral, or parent referral submitted to the designated School-Based Licensed Mental Health Professional or by contacting the Supervisor of Student Support and Mental Health Care Services.   Parents or Legal Guardians must sign a written consent for treatment prior to implementation of School-Based Mental Health Therapy services.

Who are the School-Based Mental Health Care Clinical Services Partners?

Partners for Mental Health Care Services:

  • Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board (H-NNCSB) Mental Health Care Services Partnership
    • provides clinical consultation and referral information to school leaders for families in need of support 
    • provides assessments – at the appropriate level - clinical care, service identification, and referral services for students and their family members  
    • provides in person and virtual school based mental health care therapy services for elementary schools
    • linkage to community resources for additional support (i.e. mentoring, mental health case management, medication management)
    • assist families to obtain Medicaid insurance for service provision if they do not have medical insurance
    • assist students to learn and use prevention and intervention strategies as it pertains to their mental health care plan
    • monitor student progress in therapy
    • collaborate with school staff with written consent from parent or legal guardian
    • individual, group, and family mental health care therapy service linkage to community resources for additional support (i.e. mentoring, mental health case management, medication management
  • Intercept Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT) Services
    • Therapeutic Day Treatment Monitoring (Pre-K-12th grade-various school sites)
    • Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT) is a partnership program supported by Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) and Intercept Health
    • teams of mental health professionals are placed in elementary, middle, and high schools to provide services to help youth improve behaviors and emotional well-being
    • youth receive therapeutic support at school and learn behavior management skills in an effort to improve attendance, academic performance, and reduce suspensions

Resources:

If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide:

  • Call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or text “MHA” to 741741
  • Call (800) SUICIDE for more national resources www.crisislink.org
  • American Association of Suicidology at 202-237-2280 or www.suicidology.org
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Suicide Prevention Awareness Network at www.preventsuicideva.org