Social Emotional Learning

6th Grade

The mental health staff work closely with the elementary school teachers and the 6th grade teachers to ensure a smooth transition to Oak Hill. We meet in team meetings and participate in team building activities to get to know the students and help them get to know what a school counselor does and how to access our services. 

Developmental guidance: 

Small to large group classroom activities with students to understand the guidance department as a resource and make connections.

7th Grade

Signs of Suicide Screening

All 7th grade students are given the opportunity to participate in the Signs of Suicide (SOS) presentation and screening. 

The SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program is the only youth suicide prevention program that has demonstrated an improvement in students’ knowledge and adaptive attitudes about suicide risk and depression, as well as a reduction in actual suicide attempts. Listed on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, the SOS Program has shown a reduction in self-reported suicide attempts by 40-64% in randomized control studies (Aseltine et al., 2007 & Schilling et al., 2016).

SOS is unique among school-based suicide prevention programs as it incorporates two prominent suicide prevention strategies into a single program: an educational curriculum that raises awareness about suicide and depression, and a brief screening for depression.

The SOS Programs use a simple and easy-to-remember acronym, ACT® (Acknowledge, Care, Tell), to teach students action steps to take if they encounter a situation that requires help from a trusted adult. SOS is offered for both middle and high school aged youth and can be implemented in one class period by existing faculty and staff. 

Minute meetings:

Short check ins with all students. 

8th grade

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

Beginning in the spring of the 2017-18 school year, all 8th grade students participated in SBIRT, an initiative led by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, School Health Services.  The school team, led by the school nurse, implemented SBIRT.  

In March, 2016, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted an Act relative to substance use, treatment, education and prevention (STEP Act) which outlines the requirements for public schools in the Commonwealth to engage in substance use screening and education. Legislation can be found at https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2016/Chapter52 (see Sections 15, 63, 64, 66).

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) focuses on prevention, early detection, risk assessment, brief counseling and referral for assessment that can be utilized in the school setting. Use of a validated screening tool will enable school health teams to detect risk for substance use related problems and brief intervention strategies will help to address these concerns at an early stage in adolescents.

More information about SBIRT may be found here:

https://www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/sbirt

High school registration information:

Coming in March!