The Wissahickon School District believes that a student’s social and emotional well-being is critical to their overall educational experience. Positive social and emotional well-being helps students achieve better school outcomes as well as create positive social circles. Social and emotional well-being can be highly affected by a change in routine, a negative event, and/or feelings of vulnerability. As a district, it is essential for all students to feel safe and supported.
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a systematic framework to ensure successful academic, behavioral, and social-emotional outcomes for all students using data-driven processes and evidence-based instruction, interventions, and practices.
Click the arrows in the drop down menus below to learn more about the type of social, emotional, and mental health supports that are currently offered for students and families, K-12.
The only mistake you can make is not asking for help.
WSD Core Instruction: Tier 1
High-quality school-wide supports for ALL Students
Middle school activities, discussions and connection designed to promote Social Emotional Learning for teachers and students. The Advisory Period is part of the school schedule.
How to Obtain Services: Wissahickon Middle School professional staff members- 2 days out of 6-day cycle, 30 minutes per session.
Elementary schools activities and discussions designed to promote Social Emotional Learning and Belonging. Class meetings are part of the school schedule.
How to Obtain Services: Elementary professional staff members – daily, 10-15 minutes per session.
WSD has over 35 staff members in various positions across the district who have been trained to approach, assess, and assist a person who is developing a mental health or substance use challenge or in a mental health or substance use crisis. Mental Health First Aid Responders can identify the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental health and substance use challenges. District trained staff will be able to assist in reducing stigma and increasing empathy towards young people with mental health challenges and use the skills and information learned in the training to manage their own mental wellbeing.
Students may identify a Mental Health First Aid Responder if they have a koala on their door. Click to view the list of all WSD Mental Health First Aid Responders
This program helps students understand the risks associated with marijuana use and skills to make healthy choices related to delaying substance use.
How to Obtain Services: Program Specialist from Aldersgate Youth Services – 5 sessions, 45 minute per session. Please refer to the school counselor for more information.
Through a contracted partnership with Child and Family Focus Counseling Center, the Out-based program provides individual therapy sessions for currently enrolled Wissahickon students. WSD may refer a student and/or family for services; however, services are coordinated through CFFCC and families.
How to Obtain Services: Contact your school counselor for an initial referral or call Child Family Focus directly.
This program teaches children to identify and understand their own and others’ emotions, reduce impulsiveness and choose positive goals, and manage their emotional reactions and decision-making process.
How to Obtain Services: Program Specialist from Aldersgate Youth Services – 12 lessons, 30 minute per lesson. Please refer to your child's school counselor for more information.
The curriculum utilizes numerous resources in the area of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) to provide direct instruction based on individual needs. Some of the available programs include Zones of Regulation, Social Thinking, and Skill Streaming. Select staff are trained to implement these programs to support the area of SEL.
How to Obtain Services: Contact your school Counselor and/or building principal.
The Vaping Prevention Plus Wellness is designed to increase wellness-enhancing behaviors including physical activity, sports participation, healthy eating, getting adequate sleep, and practicing stress control. The program helps students identify how vaping interferes with reaching wellness behavior goals and positive self-image.
How to Obtain Services: Program Specialist from Aldersgate Youth Services – 1 session, 45 minutes per session. Please refer to the school counselor for more information.
Tier 2 offers evidenced-based supports are provided to students who are struggling academically, socially, and/or behaviorally.
Tier 3 offers intensive individualized interventions for eligible students not responding to Tier 2 supports or who demonstrate a more intense need.
Four BCBAs are responsible for conducting functional behavioral assessments, training, consulting with teachers and/or paraprofessionals, and helping build positive behavioral support plans. Some BCBAs are trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy which was adapted for school-based practitioners and addresses skills that prevent or change the development of maladaptive cognitions and behaviors.
WSD has over 35 staff members in various positions across the district who have been trained to approach, assess, and assist a person who is developing a mental health or substance use challenge or in a mental health or substance use crisis. Mental Health First Aid Responders can identify the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental health and substance use challenges. District trained staff will be able to assist in reducing stigma and increasing empathy towards young people with mental health challenges and use the skills and information learned in the training to manage their own mental wellbeing.
Students may identify a Mental Health First Aid Responder if they have a koala on their door. Click to view the list of all WSD Mental Health First Aid Responders
An onsite licensed mental health therapist meets either with individual or small groups of students related to issues of mental health on a short-term or long-term basis, which are determined by the support services needed.
How to Obtain Services: Contact your school counselor and/or building principal. All contact information can be found on each school’s webpage.
Through a contracted partnership with Child and Family Focus Counseling Center, the out-based program provides individual therapy sessions for currently enrolled Wissahickon students. WSD may refer a student and/or family for services; however, services are coordinated through CFFCC and families.
How to Obtain Services: Contact your school counselor for an initial referral or call Child Family Focus directly.
There is a Safety Care Team in each school who are trained in Crisis Prevention and Intervention to assist in de-escalation for students who exhibit behaviors that impede their learning or that of others. The district has in-house trainers who provide annual initial and recertification training for staff.
How to Obtain Services: Contact your school counselor and/or building principal. All contact information can be found on each school’s webpage.
The psychologist serves as the liaison between home mental health supports and the school team. The psychologist may support students by conducting periodic individual or small group support. The psychologist is involved in Student Assistance programs (SAP) teams, crisis, and risk/safety care teams.
Through Aldersgate YSB and Montgomery County, each school has one SAP liaison on campus at least one day per week. The SAP liaison provides individual or small group support related to issues of substance misuse, mental health, or other high-risk behaviors interfering with their education and life development. The SAP liaison also attends most Student Assistance Program meetings and completes the SAP assessments.
How to Obtain Services: Contact your school counselor and/or building principal. All contact information can be found on each school’s webpage.
NOTE: The Wissahickon School District does not assume any responsibility or liability for the service providers in this list. The listings are for reference purposes only and they do not imply on the part of WSD or any of its schools any guarantee of quality, assumption of liability or endorsement of the organizations or individuals referenced. These organizations and individuals are solely responsible for their operation and quality of the services provided.
Aldersgate Youth Service Bureau (215-657-4545)
Individual, family, and marital counseling, outreach, prevention education, school-based supportive services. Also provides voluntary and court-mandated substance abuse/drug & alcohol counseling and education.
Child and Family Focus (215-957-9771)
Family based services, community mental health support services, outpatient therapy, extended assessment, and psychiatric/medication management services.
Creative Health Services (484-941-0500)
Individual, group, and family counseling for children and adults with Mental Health concerns, drug & alcohol outpatient counseling for adults, children/adult case management, adult intensive outpatient services.
Brooke Glen Behavioral Health Hospital
(215-641-5404)
Inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization treatment programs for children and adolescents with Mental Health or addiction concerns.
Foundations Behavioral Health (800-445-4722)
Inpatient and partial hospitalization services for children and adolescents with Mental Health concerns.
Heritage of Hope Counseling
Telehealth or in-person counseling for children, teens and families with issues such as anxiety, depression and trauma
Horsham Clinic (1-800-237-4447)
Inpatient, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization services for children and adolescents with Mental Health or addiction concerns.
Laurel House (1-800-642-3150)
Supports those impacted by domestic violence, provides crisis intervention, safe haven, supportive programs and resources.
The Light Program (888-686-7511)
Individual and group therapy, psychiatric/medication management, Mental Health intensive outpatient, eating disorder treatment.
Merakey – formally Northwestern Human Services (888-647-0020)
Outpatient, school-based supportive services, medication management, and various in-home services for Mental Health concerns; as well as adult drug & alcohol outpatient counseling and intensive outpatient programs.
Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center: Offering collaborative services, advocacy, leadership and education in response to allegations of child abuse, Mission Kids serves victims and their families in a dedicated, child-friendly setting to achieve justice and rehabilitate physical and emotional well being.
Rehab After Work/Rehab After School (800-238-4357)
Individual and family therapy, intensive outpatient program for adults/teens with drug and alcohol concerns.
Renfrew Center (1-800-RENFREW)
Inpatient and outpatient treatment for eating disorders and related Mental Health concerns.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dial 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
SAMHSA National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 800-662-HELP (4357)
WSD was pleased to provide a virtual parent workshop series in partnership with two local mental health agencies, Aldersgate Youth Service Bureau (AYSB) and Regna Services, in March 2022. Recorded workshops are linked below.
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