BALDWIN PARK – As part of the District’s rollout of its school reopening mental health support plan, Baldwin Park Unified’s Board of Education voted to approve expanded contract services with local mental health agencies during a regular board meeting on April 27.

Baldwin Park Unified has expanded agreements with The Center for Integrated Family and Health Services (CIFHS) and Foothill Family, assigning mental health therapists to BPUSD campuses to ensure students have access to vital health services.

The additional support on campus will provide students with increased access to counseling services while they manage the transition to hybrid learning.

“We are grateful and excited to increase the mental health services available to our students and families with the help of our local mental health partners,” Superintendent Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza said. “At Baldwin Park Unified, our mission is to ensure high achievement for all learners, and this is only possible when we are advocates for our students’ mental and emotional health.”

Through these contracts, the community-based agencies will keep mental health professionals on each BPUSD campus for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.

The primary duties of the mental health professionals will include:

• Interviewing, screening and providing case management support for referred students and families
• Teaching students coping strategies and techniques through counseling sessions
• Providing group counseling sessions, such as grief counseling and goal setting
• Writing student referrals for ongoing counseling services with outside mental health agencies
• Providing crisis management support

CIFHS will provide services 12 hours a week for students and families of Holland, Jones, Olive and Sierra Vista middle schools, Baldwin Park High School, North Park Continuation High School and Sierra Vista High School.

Central, De Anza, Geddes, Kenmore, Pleasant View, Santa Fe, Tracy and Vineland elementary schools will receive five hours of service a week per site.

Foothill Family will provide services to Bursch, Elwin, Foster, Margaret Heath and Walnut elementary schools, with each site receiving five hours of service a week.