By Pamela Cruz
Mental health and cultural services for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) middle school students will be expanded over the next four years.
The DCYF-SFUSD Middle School Beacon Centers Mental Health Initiative will coordinate the project, which will kick off in three schools, beginning in the fall of 2021.
This was announced by San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed and Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews, who noted that the benefit to the Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF) and the School District was made possible with the help of a private contribution from an anonymous donor.
The initiative will eventually serve students in 13 middle schools and three K-8 schools that have Beacon Centers and operate in partnership with community organizations, they said.
A combination of funding sources, including a private contribution from an anonymous donor of more than $15 million over the next four years, will allow SFUSD and DCYF to build on existing models, including High School Wellness Centers and Beacon Centers, to improve and expand more full-service community schools.
"Even before COVID-19, our youth were experiencing challenges around mental health and wellness, which is why we have been investing in efforts to provide students with comprehensive support," said Mayor Breed.
He added that now with the pandemic, students and their families have been having an even harder time, and there is a greater need for more mental health services for young people.
"As our students prepare to return to the classroom this fall, we want them and their families to know that our City and schools are ready to support them," he added.
For his part, SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews said it is essential that area schools have the necessary resources to address the mental, physical and emotional health of students, as well as their academic progress.
"We are dedicated to creating school communities that fully serve the well-being, growth and development of students. This donation will allow for timely support for the mental health and well-being of thousands of young people. It is truly one of the best gifts anyone could give our students during this time of unprecedented challenges," he stressed.
Through a statementThe city noted that more than half of all mental illnesses manifest before the age of 14, and reaching vulnerable children and their families through school-based or school-linked supports provides a viable and scalable way to address mental health issues early.
The DCYF-SFUSD Beacon Middle School Mental Health Initiative will provide comprehensive support to thousands of students and parents through enhanced comprehensive health education and direct clinical services.
In January of this year, Mayor Breed announced that San Francisco would provide new mental health resources for SFUSD students and their families in need of behavioral health crisis support.
The city expanded the Mobile Response Team, which provides personalized health and mental wellness services for children and youth who are referred to the program, including in-person interventions during the pandemic.
SFUSD students are now eligible for Mobile Response Team services. Additional staff and behavioral health clinicians will enable the program to serve approximately 80 additional students and families.
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