Essex-Westford School District Enhances Student Mental Health Services Through Community Partnerships

The Essex-Westford School District is actively expanding its mental health services to better support students by collaborating with local community organizations. While the district currently provides in-school therapy sessions, the demand for these services exceeds availability.

Erin Maguire, Co-Director of Student Support Services for the district, stated, "We have services in our school district through our school-based clinicians, through The Howard Center for students. But we don’t have enough access to therapy, and families really have struggled to be able to find slots for therapists for their children to see." (ewsd.org)

To address this gap, the district is seeking a diverse range of therapists, including play, art, and music therapists, particularly for younger children. Maguire expressed openness to various partnerships to meet these needs.

One such partnership is with Spectrum Youth and Family Services, a Burlington-based organization dedicated to empowering teenagers, young adults, and their families through prevention, intervention, and life skills services. (spectrumvt.org) The district has distributed information about the Catamount Community Clinic, a collaboration between Spectrum and the University of Vermont’s counseling program.

Anna Elliot, Program Coordinator for the UVM graduate program, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "As a practicing mental health clinician, one of my specialty areas is working with families and Spectrum Youth and Family. It’s in the name." (spectrumvt.org)

The Catamount Community Clinic aims to address multiple community issues, including access to mental healthcare and workforce development. Chris Smith, Chief Clinical Officer at Spectrum, noted, "We saw this as an opportunity to really serve a couple of different priorities in our community. We need to build the workforce. We need to increase opportunity. We need to provide these students with the place to do that as well." (spectrumvt.org)

While many services can be billed to a family’s insurance, the district is also seeking providers who offer free services to ensure accessibility for all families. For more information about the Catamount Community Clinic, interested individuals can contact Anna Elliot at 802-864-7423 x 331 or via email at [email protected]. (spectrumvt.org)

Through these collaborative efforts, the Essex-Westford School District and its community partners are working to provide comprehensive mental health support to students, ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive academically and personally.