SPS increases support for mental health and substance abuse prevention

May 24—Thanks to the work of Stillwater Public Schools staff and a three-year grant, Stillwater students are receiving more mental health support and substance abuse prevention.

SPS Prevention and Grant Coordinator Lindy Zamborsky, Wellness and Trauma Response Coordinator Kira Frisby and Substance Abuse Counselor Rachel Roberts — among many others — have worked together to optimize the use of grant funds provided by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

The Multi-Tiered System of Support grant, which is supported by federal funding paid out over three years, has focused on providing options for good mental health and substance abuse prevention in the district. Frisby gave an update regarding the use of grant funding at the SPS Board of Education meeting on May 14.

Key areas Frisby said the team focused during training on preventing the use of tetrahydrocannabinol (TCH) and vaping, improving the environment at school and helping students with physiological distress.

The team rebranded its department to be known as Student Support and Wellness.

"It's everything student support, and it's everything wellness," Frisby said.

They have helped provide information for SPS high-need district counselors, school counselors, family and student resource specialists and school nurses, in addition to helping parents understand what the grant provides.

The team also worked with English Language Learner Coordinator Stephanie Coca to help with cultural and language accommodations and with Assistant Superintendent of Operations Bo Gamble regarding threat assessment and safety and security issues.

First steps in implementing the grant funding included mental health and suicide prevention training for all SPS staff.

Next, they administered the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment in November 2023 to all sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th graders.

The readiness assessment results are revealing.

SPS learned that 75.2% of parents feel that their student's mental health is supported at school, and 69.8% of parents said the school provides resources and support. Almost 69% said many students struggle with thoughts of suicide, and 55% said students are struggling with mental health.

Nearly 59% percent said tobacco use is a problem, 51.5% said vaping is a problem and 58.5% said marijuana is a problem.

Underage drinking is also a problem, according to 66.7% of parents, and more than 50% said bullying is an issue at their child's school.

Firsby said the OPNA data reflects similar results, as well.

The results reinforce the idea that "this is something we need to continue to work on," Frisby said.

"We don't at all think that every young person is struggling with mental health issues," Frisby said. "We know that there are a lot of things that we can do that will help our mental health — all of us."

With grant funding, the team planned events such as supporting Red Ribbon Week activities (the nation's largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign), provided pedal carts and goggles for impaired driving demonstrations, gave Mad Science presentations (STEM-based prevention program) for all fifth-graders and hosted Stillwater Middle School prevention days.

Other steps included setting up a student support website, publishing staff wellness and family wellness newsletters (with themes such as work/life balance, connection with others and movement) and developing a comprehensive prevention library.

They hosted a Parent Engagement Night on Feb. 5, provided school avoidance training to all principals in the district and started a 988 suicide prevention campaign.

They have continued training through conferences, and Frisby said they received a Stillwater Public Education Foundation grant that allowed them to give prizes to staff after they completed training.

The team partnered with the Saville Center to provide the district with the curriculum called ROAR, the Oklahoma City Children's Advocacy Center's child-based education program that teaches children ages 4-8 how to protect themselves from abuse.

In addition to hiring extra staff, the team's future goals include implementing a reporting system in the fall of 2024 for people to report concerns.

They are also planning to implement a district-wide wellness and behavior program called PAX Good Behavior Game. The game is an evidence-based universal preventive intervention for elementary educators to apply in the classroom.

The district will also begin using Care Solace, a mental health services referral system.

Care Solace works alongside school districts to quickly connect students, school staff and their families to mental health and substance use treatment providers that match their needs.

The support is 24/7/365 and specializes in addressing cultural and language needs.

One of the key benefits about Care Solace is that it ensures equitable access to care, regardless of coverage — including private insurance, Medicaid and sliding scale options for those without insurance.

Care Solace will also help expand the district's current support systems while bridging the gap to community providers who can help with needs beyond the district's scope of services.

Frisby said when she hears how mental health issues and substance abuse issues are on the rise, she can get overwhelmed.

"What can we do about it? We can do what we're doing, and we can keep talking about it," Frisby said. "... I don't care how we get (the information) out there, whatever we have to do, we will do it."