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Mental Health & SEL Resources

Supporting Student Well-being: Social-Emotional Learning & Mental Health Resources in Santa Rita Union School District

Welcome to the Santa Rita Union School District's (SRUSD) resource page dedicated to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health. At SRUSD, we believe that supporting the social and emotional well-being of our students is fundamental to their success in school and in life. Our focus is on creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where every student can learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL helps all students reach their full potential as caring, contributing, and responsible friends, family members, coworkers, and citizens. It can also serve as a powerful lever for creating inclusive and equitable communities.

Research and experience show that focusing on SEL and mental health has significant benefits for students and the entire school community. When districts have implemented SEL, they have seen improvements in academic achievement, including reading and math scores. Attendance, graduation rates, and GPA have also increased. Furthermore, focusing on SEL can lead to improvements in school climate, decreased suspensions and expulsions, and students feeling safer and more connected to school. Our goal is to help students learn new skills, such as how to identify feelings and deal with them appropriately, teach coping skills, build self-esteem, and improve their ability to learn and participate in positive relationships.

  • Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL helps all students reach their full potential as caring, contributing, and responsible friends, family members, coworkers, and citizens. It can also serve as a powerful lever for creating inclusive and equitable communities.

  • Research and experience show that focusing on SEL and mental health has significant benefits for students and the entire school community. When districts have implemented SEL, they have seen improvements in academic achievement, including reading and math scores. Attendance, graduation rates, and GPA have also increased. Furthermore, focusing on SEL can lead to improvements in school climate, decreased suspensions and expulsions, and students feeling safer and more connected to school. Our goal is to help students learn new skills, such as how to identify feelings and deal with them appropriately, teach coping skills, build self-esteem, and improve their ability to learn and participate in positive relationships.

Our District's Commitment & Resources

SRUSD is deeply committed to supporting the social and emotional needs of our students. We offer a range of services and resources directly within our district.

Our school-based counseling program provides essential general education counseling services on school sites during school hours. This program is designed to support at-risk, behavioral, and emotionally troubled youth.

Services include: Individual and/or group counseling, consultation with teachers/school staff, consultation with parents, information and referral, and classroom/playground observation. 

The district also employs social workers at every school site, including a dedicated social worker to support our special education students.

Students can learn valuable skills through this program, such as identifying feelings, dealing with them appropriately, and developing coping mechanisms.

Accessing these services is easy: Parents may request services, school personnel and/or administrators can make referrals, and students can self-refer.

You can contact your school site principal or child's teacher for further information regarding the school-based counseling program.

District Counseling Services Contact: For general inquiries about District Counseling Services, you can contact Claudia Prieto, Bilingual Administrative Assistant, at 831-443-7200 x12096.

  • Our school-based counseling program provides essential general education counseling services on school sites during school hours. This program is designed to support at-risk, behavioral, and emotionally troubled youth.

    Services include: Individual and/or group counseling, consultation with teachers/school staff, consultation with parents, information and referral, and classroom/playground observation. 

    The district also employs social workers at every school site, including a dedicated social worker to support our special education students.

    Students can learn valuable skills through this program, such as identifying feelings, dealing with them appropriately, and developing coping mechanisms.

    Accessing these services is easy: Parents may request services, school personnel and/or administrators can make referrals, and students can self-refer.

    You can contact your school site principal or child's teacher for further information regarding the school-based counseling program.

    District Counseling Services Contact: For general inquiries about District Counseling Services, you can contact Claudia Prieto, Bilingual Administrative Assistant, at 831-443-7200 x12096.

Partner Resources for Families

We collaborate with external partners to provide additional layers of support and resources for our students and families.

  • CareSolace is a unique service that allows everyone a way to reach out for mental health and wellness support. It is a care navigation and coordination system that makes it simple and easy for anyone in the SRUSD community to get the right help in seconds. To access this service quickly - Access resources by visiting the CareSolace website at https://caresolace.com/site/santaritaschools.

  • Harmony at Home’s Sticks and Stones services offer trauma-focused and school-based counseling program that is designed to help children and youth to be able to identify and express their feelings in healthy ways. For more information, contact your child’s principal.

  • The Monterey County Behavioral Health Child and Youth services, otherwise known as the Child and Youth System of Care (CSOC) offers comprehensive outpatient specialty mental health services for children, teens, and young adults experiencing moderate to severe mental health and substance use challenges that significantly affect their daily functioning. To connect with Behavioral Health, call the ACCESS line at 1-888-258-6029 to speak to an ACCESS representative who can help you find the right service for you or someone you care about. Lines are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and our services are available in both English and Spanish.

  • Our district has resources and processes in place for Threat, Bullying, and Cyberbullying Reporting. Contact your child’s school principal for more information.

Resources for Families

We understand that families play a crucial role in supporting student well-being. Find below resources to learn more about SEL is and its benefits for children.

Download PDF resources in various languages on anxiety, impulsivity, and more

Get Support / Contact Us

If your child needs counseling support, the first step is to contact their school site principal or teacher.

For general questions about district counseling services, you can contact Claudia Prieto at 831-443-7200 x12096.

We are here to support our students and families on their journey of learning and growing, both academically and emotionally.