Pupil Counselors Needed As Much As Ever: West Hartford Schools

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The Covid-19 pandemic may clearly be recessed in societal memories, as treatments and vaccines have tranformed the effects for many from dire to a health nuisance.

Simply put, life has moved on and it is as close to normal for many of us as its ever been since 2020.

But school systems, including West Hartford's, are still coping with post-pandemic after-effects, especially as they pertain to students' mental health and ability to grow academically and socially.

The West Hartford Board of Education last month hosted an in-depth update from school administrators and the district's new mental health coordinator on how West Hartford's children are doing.

And while the news is they're getting better, they also said various types of counseling services implemented this school year are still very much needed and in demand.

Paul Vicinus, West Hartford's assistant superintendent, told school board members March 21 post-pandemic impacts on the youngest kids have them struggling with coming out of the post-pandemic world.

That can happen, he said, when many spent tremendouts amounts of time at home, learning virtually and without the typical social interactions of childhood.

"So the need for these supports for our children is very real. It's an experience that is a change for our students in terms of how they are," Vicinus said.

Prior to the events of March 2020 and the following years, Vicinus said school staffers were already reporting upswings in mental health issues for children, from social isolation and increased family stress, possibly linked to a new, high-tech world.

"And that was really exacerbated by the pandemic," he said.

One result was a rise in reports of "bad behavior" in schools and, even, outright increases in bullying, Vicinus said.

The presentation wasn't for any type of school board vote, but served to update board members on a $2.3 million measure approved in June 2022 for improved mental health services and added staff to district schools at the elementary school level.

That measure allowed for the hiring of the six new mental health professionals for the next two years.

It was part of funding West Hartford got from the fedeal Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to hire five more mental health counselors, as well as the district-wide mental health coordinator to help students with mental health needs.

ESSER dollars were born out of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is designed to help municipalities with the financial burdens of the COVID pandemic.

In all, West Hartford schools were allocated $14.94 million in ESSER funds from 2022 to 2024.

Originally, the school system planned to spend about $1.44 million toward student mental health needs.

But administrators determined more needed to be spent to help children. As a result, local education officials upped the allotment by $872,193 to $2.3 million for mental health.

Kim Doyle, the school district's new mental health coordinator, said those dollars are being used to support counselors making an impact.

"Counselors have been involved in many different facets of supporting students," Doyle said.

For example, Doyle said counselors are visiting classes to discuss issues, having group counseling sessions with pupils struggling with similar issues and, even, having one-on-ones with students who especially need help.

In addition, Doyle said they're making referrals for those pupils especially in need and working with parents in the process.

"Parents now know to reach out to counselers if they have concerns that they want to run by someone and the counselors have time to jump in and follow up on those," Doyle said.

Statistically, West Hartford elementary school counselors have seen 380 kids they might not have seen otherwise, visited 314 classrooms and worked with student, staff and parent support organizations regarding mental health.

Meanwhile, school administrators said they're already looking ahead to next year and whether any adjustments must be made.

Plus, the school system must weigh whether it will continue funding the counselor initiative when the ESSER dollars run out.

"We're kind of assessing where we are at this point in the middle of the year and we're making plans for next year and any adjustments we want to make, any resources we need, any further supports for the elementary schools counseling team and where this lives with our clinical teams," said West Hartford Director of Pupil Services Melissa Caballero.

School board member appeared pleased with the initiative so far.

"This is just another example of how our district prioritizes the whole child," said school board member Ari Steinberg. "I actually think that what you're doing now is undoing some of what's been done during the pandemic."

"Thank you for approaching this in the holistic way that you are," said West Hartford Board of Education Chairperson Lorna Thomas-Farquarson. "These young people are soon going to grow up and become adults and we must invest in them now and I appreciate hearing you think long-term."

From June 24, 2022: 'WH Ups Spending For COVID-stressed Kids' Mental Health'