Students are facing a lot of issues these days. Sometimes, these issues spill into the hallways. A $3 million federal grant will not only fund the hiring of 22 mental health counselors to help with one-on-one and group therapy sessions for students. It’s something the schools don’t have right now, and it’s something they need.“Not everyone has an outlet. It would be nice to have a specific person for everyone,” Ty’hja Cooper said.Cooper, a Huffman High School senior, says when 22 certified mental health counselors start showing up at various Birmingham schools, students will seek the therapy they need.”Sometimes violence can be brought into the schools, and it can play a part on a student’s behavior. It can be overwhelming to the students acting this way and the students who are there,” Cooper said.>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13The district’s school psychologist, Saterah Bigham, wrote the letter that convinced the U.S. Department of Education to give Birmingham City Schools the $3 million federal grant. She says that the contracted counselors currently come into the schools once a week. “We’re really excited to be able to hire a mental health therapist because they’ll be able to engage in activities of trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy and supports,” Bigham said.Richard Franklin represents educators across Birmingham City schools. “Our counselors have tried. They’ve done their best. We’ve talked to some, and they’re overwhelmed. This offers an opportunity to experts who can deal with more of these issues,” Franklin said.Last week, a Jackson Olin High School football player died in a shooting after a basketball game at Woodlawn High School.>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Franklin says that the incident impacted three high schools in the district. “He was a student at Jackson Olin High School, but his ninth and tenth grade year he attended Parker High School, and it happened at Woodlawn, so this is a support system, and it also helps our staff,” Franklin said.The one-time grant will last five years. In early January, BCS will post the jobs looking for the 22 certified mental health counselors.If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can chat online here.
Students are facing a lot of issues these days. Sometimes, these issues spill into the hallways. A $3 million federal grant will not only fund the hiring of 22 mental health counselors to help with one-on-one and group therapy sessions for students. It’s something the schools don’t have right now, and it’s something they need.
“Not everyone has an outlet. It would be nice to have a specific person for everyone,” Ty’hja Cooper said.
Cooper, a Huffman High School senior, says when 22 certified mental health counselors start showing up at various Birmingham schools, students will seek the therapy they need.
“Sometimes violence can be brought into the schools, and it can play a part on a student’s behavior. It can be overwhelming to the students acting this way and the students who are there,” Cooper said.
>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13
The district’s school psychologist, Saterah Bigham, wrote the letter that convinced the U.S. Department of Education to give Birmingham City Schools the $3 million federal grant. She says that the contracted counselors currently come into the schools once a week.
“We’re really excited to be able to hire a mental health therapist because they’ll be able to engage in activities of trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy and supports,” Bigham said.
Richard Franklin represents educators across Birmingham City schools.
“Our counselors have tried. They’ve done their best. We’ve talked to some, and they’re overwhelmed. This offers an opportunity to experts who can deal with more of these issues,” Franklin said.
Last week, a Jackson Olin High School football player died in a shooting after a basketball game at Woodlawn High School.
>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Franklin says that the incident impacted three high schools in the district.
“He was a student at Jackson Olin High School, but his ninth and tenth grade year he attended Parker High School, and it happened at Woodlawn, so this is a support system, and it also helps our staff,” Franklin said.
The one-time grant will last five years. In early January, BCS will post the jobs looking for the 22 certified mental health counselors.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can chat online here.
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