District Mental Health Team
NLMUSD's multi-disciplinary team of 25 School Social Workers and Mental Health Professionals provide socio-emotional learning and mental health services to support students' academic success and overall well-being. These services are available to all NLMUSD students and families. Social Workers and Mental Health Professionals include NLMUSD's cohort of 22 Masters of Social Work (MSW) interns.
District Wellness Coordinators
Tyra Torian, LCSW, PPSC
I have 10 years experience working in the mental health field. I am an instructor for Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and I am committed to informing educators about impact of trauma on children and families.
Denise Rizo, LCSW, PPSC
I have provided mental health services for adults and adolescents within a substance use agency, custody to community re-entry program and schools.
Blessy Giron, LCSW, PPSC
I have experience providing mental health services in various settings, to children and families from diverse backgrounds. I am excited about empowering parents and educators.
Julianna Taillon, LCSW, PPSC
I have worked for community mental health agencies, public schools, group homes and for the psychiatric mobile response team over the past 14 years. I am passionate about helping others find their resiliency during times of struggle and leading a life filled with happiness and satisfaction.
How School Social Workers Support Students, Families and Schools
🎓Facilitate lessons and activities in socio-emotional learning that align with Common Core standards to improve academic success and student well-being.
📚Teach students "life skills" such as coping, self-awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making and problem solving.
👨👩👧👦 Facilitate collaboration between families and schools.
👩🏽💻 Targeted services to vulnerable populations such as foster youth and homeless students.
🌎 Facilitate campus-wide or preventive initiatives to support all students such as bullying prevention, suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
‼️Provide crisis intervention and response.
🔆Provide individual therapy (with parent consent) and group counseling and refer those needing additional support to NLMUSD's Community Resource Collaborative.
💡Offer consultation, support, training and professional development for school staff in areas related to students' social-emotional, behavioral and mental health needs.
👣 Use our education and training in cultural competence and trauma-informed care to serve students and families from diverse backgrounds in a respectful and ethical way.
🔔 Promote a positive school climate and school culture that is safe and inclusive for all students.
⬇️ Reduce discipline such as suspension and expulsion by increasing students' use of coping skills and adaptive behavior.
⬆️ Improve attendance by educating families and helping to identify and eliminate barriers to attendance.