Elk Hill offering mental health services to Waynesboro students
WAYNESBORO — Elk Hill is partnering with Kate Collins Middle School, William Perry Elementary School and Valley Academy to provide services to children who struggle with emotional and behavioral needs during the school day.
A press release said that Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT) is available to certain students who are Medicaid eligible. To address these critical needs, Elk Hill delivers:
Weekly individual counseling with behavior and emotional support in the classroom;
Weekly psycho-therapy groups to improve social functioning and emotional regulation;
Teacher support related to mental health as well as collaborate on student and/or classroom needs;
Serve as a communication liaison between school and home.
Additionally, child outpatient counseling is also being offered at Berkeley Glenn Elementary. The release said that being able to provide these services during the school day allows children to be more successful within traditional classrooms and eliminates barriers including transportation and busy family schedules.
"Elk Hill is pleased to partner with Waynesboro schools by providing individualized counseling," said said Dr. Laura Easter, Elk Hill's chief operating officer. "We hope this will lead to expanded services across the district."
Elk Hill was established in 1970 by S. Buford Scott in Goochland. Beginning as an orphanage for boys, Elk Hill has expanded from that single facility to a network of five therapeutic group homes, three day-schools, and provides mental health support services in dozens of public schools.
Elk Hill started partnering with Augusta County and Staunton schools in 2017 and are now offering Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT), outpatient counseling, and equine therapy.
The Elk Hill Staunton School opened in 2016 on the grounds of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. This specialized day-school serves children in first through 12th grades. Students are referred to Elk Hill due to their serious emotional and/or behavioral challenges that have prevented their success in other schools, the release said.
Every student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) so that each child receives specialized instruction for their unique needs. Small class size, positive behavior reinforcement, social skills training, and other mental health supports allow children to overcome whatever barriers stand in their way to successful futures, per the release.
Besides Staunton, Elk Hill also has schools located in Charlottesville and Goochland.
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— Patrick Hite is a reporter for The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Elk Hill offering mental health services to Waynesboro students
