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The NESTT (Navigating Emotions and Stress Through Training) is a mental health center for students at City High School. The skills, services, and support of the NESTT are backed by research rooted in trauma-informed practice to create a safe space for all students and a trauma-sensitive school experience.
Our current services include:
Our current services include:
Being a safe, single area in the building for students to go, to better prioritize mental health services for students. Students can then be referred to the Health Office, Student and Family Advocates, or the guidance office, better ensuring the safety of all students.
Provide students with the support of trained professionals within the school building by teaching specific skills and coping strategies.
Help students build resilience, develop positive relationships with a trusted adult, engage in restorative practices/mindfulness through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills-based curriculum, and work on conflict resolution.
Continue to build relationships with community resources such as United Action for Youth, NAMI, DVIP, UIHC Child Life, and Prelude.
Resources for parents and teachers/staff
Provide access to puzzles, games, books, fidget toys, coloring materials, and iPads with activities and ideas to calm and self-soothe.
We also have a newsletter we release every school month that contains information about a mental health topic and a few exercises related to DBT.
Referral Process
Referral Process
The NESTT services are available by walk-in or appointment. Students can come when they need to, let their teacher know they need to go to the NESTT, or a staff member can refer them to us. The most important thing is that students are able to get here when they need to.
Once students return to class, they may receive a pass to take to the Attendance Office to ensure their absence is marked as excused. Students have the option to have one of our NESTT passes or one that is unmarked for privacy by request.
How the NESTT came to be
How the NESTT came to be
Several staff members of City High School working in different capacities throughout the building noticed a need for a single space for students to access when experiencing a mental health need. They observed that students were often sent to many different areas throughout the school (nurse's office, SFA’s office, school counselors, etc.) creating barriers to meeting the full needs of student’s mental health. This group of student family advocates, a school counselor, social worker, and teacher, collaborated to apply for a grant through the Iowa City Community School District Foundation for funding of the NESTT space.
They were awarded the grant in the Spring of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, the roll-out of the space was put on hold as schools transitioned online. In the Fall of 2020, the space experienced further delays as construction at City High School impacted the availability of open and accessible space to create the NESTT. Throughout the fall quarter of 2020, NESTT staff and practicum students worked to support students via virtual NESTT mental health services while working to create technology such as the website and social media sites. In January 2021, the physical NESTT room came to full fruition.
For more information, contact us at NESTT@iowacityschools.org.
The NESTT is supported through a generous grant through the Iowa City Community District Foundation. Thank you to all who donate to this wonderful organization supporting our schools and our students.
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