The Compton School Board has unanimously approved an agreement that will create more counseling services for our school children. The Board approved an agreement with a non-profit group called Counseling4Kids who contract with the L.A. County Department of Mental Health.
The services they provide will help us continue to expand how we meet the needs of our children who are impacted by trauma.
Counseling4Kids was founded in 1997 and since then has worked with over 11,000 children in Los Angeles. They have 80 licensed therapists all trained to deal with children and all certified in the treatment of the effects of trauma.
This is very good news for our children.
They will be on-site at the Compton School District every school day during school hours. While the services will be mostly school-based, our agreement with them will leave them the flexibility to do home visits as well.
They provide individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. Their services are bilingual (both English and Spanish) and will concentrate on prevention and early intervention for our students.
In addition, parent advocates and case managers will make sure that any services our children need are being linked to service providers in the Compton community. This comprehensive approach to making sure that children (and families) who need services are getting them is part of how the Compton School Board and our administration make sure that student success and study safety are grounded in all decisions we make.
Children and adolescents vary in the nature of their responses to traumatic experiences. Having expanded these services in the Compton schools means that we will be better able to address children who may need help.
By supporting the child, the family and the community, we believe our students will be healthier, resilient and happy and as a result will do better in school.
We’ll continue to update you with information as these services are introduced in the coming days.