Families in Oakland County navigating student mental health needs have an additional resource they can turn to: Oakland Community Health Network’s Mental Health School Navigator program. This team provides expert guidance and real-life support for challenges that often stretch beyond what school staff can manage alone.
We talked with Jessica Widzinski, a licensed clinical social worker and one of the School Mental Health Navigators on the Oakland Community Health Network team, to learn how the program works, who it helps and what parents in Michigan need to know about school mental health services.
What is a Mental Health School Navigator?
School Mental Health Navigators are a team of three full-time licensed clinical social workers. Along with a dedicated referral coordinator, they help connect schools, students and families to mental health services in Oakland County, substance use support and essential community resources. Their mission is to reduce barriers to care and help families navigate what can be a complicated system.
While they partner closely with schools, Navigators work independently of them. They’re available year-round — attending IEP meetings, meeting families in the community or consulting with caregivers directly.
“We are community-based, so we are able to meet the family and the student where they are. If necessary, we can come to the school and attend a school meeting and help develop a game plan for how we can best support the student,” says Widzinski.
Why school mental health services are critical in Oakland County
Across Oakland County, many elementary schools share a single social worker and high school counselors often support hundreds of students at once. With so much responsibility, sometimes a child’s mental health needs can be overlooked unless something obvious — or urgent — calls attention to them.
“Unfortunately, It might take something very alarming, a red flag to pop up, before concerns with a student are addressed. All behavior is communication. How students act, respond and behave — that is all communicating something,” Widzinski says.
Navigators help fill the gaps. Whether it’s finding a therapist, accessing Medicaid covered services, as well as other community resources such as food, housing or applying for state assistance, they bring a broader lens to student well-being.
“Mental health isn’t just therapy and psychiatry,” said Widzinski. “Mental health also includes barriers to accessing food, utilities, rent and housing insecurity. There’s just much more to our mental health than just having a therapist to talk to.”
In the wake of the pandemic and shootings in Oakland County schools and communities, this program was developed to meet families where they are — and help when students need more access to support than ever.
Helping students with disabilities transition into adulthood
Navigators play an especially important role for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities, particularly those in the adult transition phase of age 18–26.
“We support individuals who are 18 years old and have physical or cognitive limitations. The world now sees them as an adult,” Widzinski says, adding that they help families address common concerns like living as independently as possible and gaining employment.
Working closely with Oakland Schools’ transition coordinators, Navigators help families begin the planning process early — ideally by age 16 — and guide them through steps like:
- Applying for Medicaid and state supports
- Understanding supported decision-making
- Exploring options such as power of attorney or guardianship
- Connecting to vocational training or day programs
“We partnered with Oakland Schools to create a ‘Turning 18 Checklist’ for parents that schools can share at IEP meetings starting at 16 or 17,” Widzinski explains, adding that the checklist has resources and information for navigating the adult transition process.
These supports are a vital part of transition planning for students with disabilities in Michigan. “Parents don’t want their loved one to lose an opportunity just because they accidentally checked the wrong box,” Widzinski added.
How to access school mental health support in Oakland County
You don’t need to wait for a crisis to start getting help. Here are a few ways to engage with the Navigator team:
- Notice early signs. Changes in mood, withdrawal, anxiety or behavior may signal that a student needs support.
- Reach out directly. Parents can contact the Navigator team without going through a school counselor.
If your child has disabilities and needs extra support:
- Use IEP meetings. Ask if a Navigator can attend or bring materials like the Turning 18 Checklist to spark discussion.
- Start early. Planning for life after high school begins long before a student turns 18.
A unique and essential resource in Michigan
Most counties in Michigan do not have a program like this — one that centers students and families through real-time one-on-one support.
“You have more than just a general office line when you connect to us,” Widzinski says. “You have a person, a direct line of contact, and you’re not alone.”
For parents navigating tough questions — from “How do I find help for my child?” to “What comes after high school?” — this program offers answers and steady guidance toward the next step.
3 additional resources you need to know about
1. Teladoc Health is another community resource OCHN offers. It provides behavioral health support in a convenient online app.
Follow these steps to get connected:
- Visit Oakland Community Health Network’s website.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the Teladoc Health link under the Helpful Links section.
- Follow the link to create a new account.
- When prompted, enter the access code OAKLANDCHN.
2. If your need is immediate, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
3. For non-emergency Access services, call (248) 464-6363 or visit oaklandchn.org
This content is sponsored by Oakland Community Health Network.
OCHN manages and funds a service provider network for approximately 30,000 Oakland County residents at more than 400 service sites across the county. People who receive public behavioral health services through OCHN’s provider network include those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health concerns or substance use disorder. Most of these individuals have Medicaid insurance coverage.
OCHN’s goal is to ensure these individuals are aware of and have access to services and support that will improve their health and quality of life, as well as ensure their engagement in full community participation. Its mission to “inspire hope, empower people, and strengthen communities” reflects an unyielding belief in a “Valuable System for Valued People.”
Programs and supports provided by OCHN’s service network are available at oaklandchn.org.
from Metro Parent https://ift.tt/1L6Nryc
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