Essex Tech Nets $350K For Student Safety, Mental Health Programs

DANVERS, MA — Essex Tech will use a $350,000 state grant to develop programs to help improve student mental health, safety and create a more inclusive environment.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education grant will aid both new programs and those interrupted during the two years of the coronavirus health crisis.

Essex Tech will also hire a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

"As educators, we see how the challenges of school and life affect our students every day," Essex Tech Superintendent Heidi Riccio said. "The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated those challenges both here and at home.

"This grant will allow students to continue their education in a safe environment while providing much-needed support to our staff and ensure that our decisions are guided by the best practices in equity and inclusion."

A healthy relationships program will focus on raising awareness of relationship violence with student leaders and mentors, while encouraging students who may be in abusive relationships to seek school-based support.

A support-through-adventure-based learning program will include after-school groups focusing on students' social-emotional well-being. That program will include evening group sessions for families and caregivers as well as support sessions for educators and group behavioral counseling.

A family speaker series will expand to include timely and relevant information on teen substance abuse, healthy relationships and peer connections, kindness, equity and inclusion, teen behavior and social-emotional development.

The district also has begun working with Culture 7 Coaching for support and guidance in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Michael Eatman of Culture 7 works with administration, faculty and all District staff to reflect upon and assess equity and inclusion topics, concerns, and needs.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)