School -Based Services
The Transitional Coaches™ Model: A New Model for SchoolBased Mental Health Services by Judyann McCarthy, LCSW “The purpose of this program is to promote a collaborative and integrated approach between the education and healthcare communities to ensure students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.”
T
he collateral damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has included the shutdown of much of society, including many schools. Without a doubt, this public health emergency has presented unprecedented challenges to our schools and communities. In June, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) released The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan to provide necessary information and considerations for a return to in-person instruction to our school district leaders. Since the provision of these guidelines, districts have made difficult decisions regarding the safe reopening of their schools, based upon local needs assessments, staffing capacities, current enrollment numbers, and the unique physical structures within each school. New Jersey students returned to schools utilizing a mix of operational models including hybrid learning, remote instruction, and full in-person instruction. While districts have approached the challenge of school reopening in a variety of ways, all school communities are facing the same fundamental reality—their students have endured, and continue to endure, significant stress and trauma due to the ongoing pandemic. As schools
28 | NJFOCUS • May 2021
continue to adjust to daily changes related to the public health conditions and mandates, it is critical to support the mental health and resiliency of students and their families. Years of research in education, psychology, physiology, and neuroscience have shown that stress and trauma greatly impact an individual’s ability to work and learn, and this past year has been no exception. Mental health support for children and young adults has adapted to the pandemic by transitioning to digital and virtual interventions. While it is important to continue mental health support by any means possible, there are some relevant challenges that must be considered. First, not all children and young adults have access to technology; if they do, it is often not a private or personal device. Second, many children and young adults reported concerns regarding lack of privacy at home and fear that family members are overhearing their sessions. This is especially problematic for those who do not want their families to know they receive mental health support. Third, many are reporting long wait times to access online support, as well as less thorough appointments due to the increased demand for services. Lastly, many children and young people
