Monterey County Health Department and local school districts are offering mental health services to students and families amid fears of mass deportations throughout the Central Coast. Although there has not been a significant demand for help, officials want the community to know that support is available.The fear of ICE in local communities is real for many residents, leading to reports of people not wanting to leave their homes, which is causing anxiety. School counselors and the Monterey County Health Department are stepping up to offer support.ICE sightings throughout the Central Coast are causing outrage and concern among local residents. These sightings, whether verified or not, are shared on social media and are causing fear. Local school districts are stepping in to offer assistance to students and families in need.”There is a strong collaboration between our student services, our personnel services program and then we have a department for family community engagement so there is a strong collaboration amongst our social workers, our counselors, and our school coordinators so they’re ready to support for any kind of mental health support,” said Monica Anizo, deputy superintendent for the Alisal School District officials. Even during the summertime, Alisal School District offers counseling services for students and families in need. “Each school has a community school coordinator, and each school has a community school room, so we’re open all year. We have someone there to support in district social workers as well, yes, they might be on break, but they can come in if we need to come in and support,” Anizo said.Salinas School District is also stepping up to offer services. “Specific to areas where students may be coming in with concerns related to anxiety issues affecting their homes, fears, all those are attended by a school counselor,” Esteban Hernandez, with People’s Services, said.Hernandez added that they have many resources to help with mental health issues, including help over the phone for those residents afraid of meeting in person. “In addition, we provide our families with information related to programs that they can access from their home, one of them being Day Break. Day Break therapy, they can contact for individual student therapy or family therapy,” Hernandez said.County of Monterey health officials have seen a decrease in people reaching out for help, but want the community to know they are available. “Folks, if they prefer, can call and talk to staff and get information on resources and support, and start the process to connect them to services if they are wanting to do that,” said Melanie Rhodes with Monterey County Behavioral Services. List of Mental Health Resources on the Central Coast.
SALINAS, Calif. —
Monterey County Health Department and local school districts are offering mental health services to students and families amid fears of mass deportations throughout the Central Coast.
Although there has not been a significant demand for help, officials want the community to know that support is available.
The fear of ICE in local communities is real for many residents, leading to reports of people not wanting to leave their homes, which is causing anxiety.
School counselors and the Monterey County Health Department are stepping up to offer support.
ICE sightings throughout the Central Coast are causing outrage and concern among local residents.
These sightings, whether verified or not, are shared on social media and are causing fear.
Local school districts are stepping in to offer assistance to students and families in need.
“There is a strong collaboration between our student services, our personnel services program and then we have a department for family community engagement so there is a strong collaboration amongst our social workers, our counselors, and our school coordinators so they’re ready to support for any kind of mental health support,” said Monica Anizo, deputy superintendent for the Alisal School District officials.
Even during the summertime, Alisal School District offers counseling services for students and families in need.
“Each school has a community school coordinator, and each school has a community school room, so we’re open all year. We have someone there to support in district social workers as well, yes, they might be on break, but they can come in if we need to come in and support,” Anizo said.
Salinas School District is also stepping up to offer services.
“Specific to areas where students may be coming in with concerns related to anxiety issues affecting their homes, fears, all those are attended by a school counselor,” Esteban Hernandez, with People’s Services, said.
Hernandez added that they have many resources to help with mental health issues, including help over the phone for those residents afraid of meeting in person.
“In addition, we provide our families with information related to programs that they can access from their home, one of them being Day Break. Day Break therapy, they can contact for individual student therapy or family therapy,” Hernandez said.
County of Monterey health officials have seen a decrease in people reaching out for help, but want the community to know they are available.
“Folks, if they prefer, can call and talk to staff and get information on resources and support, and start the process to connect them to services if they are wanting to do that,” said Melanie Rhodes with Monterey County Behavioral Services.