SIDMAN, Pa. - Forest Hills School District's new Ranger Wellness Program brings together the expertise of mental health specialists from several groups to provide a wrap-around service for students.
The concept grew from suggestions by board member and district parent Brandi Penatzer.
"My thought was the kids are in school for seven hours a day," Penatzer said, "and if we can use that time efficiently to provide academics, but also emotional support, we should take advantage of that."
She contacted Reaching Educational Achievements with Clinical Mental Health Clinical Director Ang Carr to expand services and together they connected with Nulton Diagnostic & Treatment Center.
REACH's RISE Project (Referral, Intervention, Support and Engagement) is embedded in every Cambria County high school due to the opioid settlement funds and offers a plethora of free programs for students to access.
Carr said counseling services have their place in assisting people, but sometimes they need a boost, which is where Nulton comes in.
She and Penatzer said they are not exclusively working with any provider and stressed that families have a choice in the services.
The pair recently introduced the Ranger Wellness program to the faculty and staff at the high school.
They reminded the educators they are the first line of defense in helping a student.
Penatzer, a physician assistant, told the group that students trust them and they'll be the first to notice a change in behavior, which is important to start a referral and get the learner help, whatever that may be.
The referral leads to a triage by the SAP team (Student Assistance Program), followed by REACH being contacted to assess the situation and if needed connect with Nulton for expanded services.
Nulton has agreed to get a student in for an evaluation within 24 hours of contact.
Additionally, everyone in the referral are kept in the loop to ensure they are on the same page throughout the process.
Superintendent David Lehman said there's a "tremendous need" in students and it's important for schools to help.
"It's about supporting the whole student," he said. "We're proud to provide opportunities and choices that empower students and families to take an active role in their well-being. Whether it's through nutrition, mental health resources, or physical activity, we're committed to creating a supportive environment where every student can thrive."
Carr said the aim of the new initiative is to help families receive services easier and more efficiently.
She noted the lengthy wait times some face when signing up with a new provider, transportation barriers in rural areas and how in certaqin situations parents are unable to leave work for their child's appointments.
Lehman said Forest Hills is happy to be a conduit to make the process easier for students and their families.
"As a learning community, we take pride in working together toward a shared goal: supporting our students and families while serving as a community hub and valuable local resource," he said.