District 300 understands each person is handling the COVID-19 crisis in their own way. 

We would like to inform students that mental health resources are available to provide assistance during this challenging time, including access to counselors, social workers, psychologists, administrators, and others through virtual means.

In addition, District 300 school counselors, mental health social workers, and school social workers are available for the following services:

School Counselors:

During the school closure, school counselors can support our middle and high school students by: 

• Facilitating 504 Plan meetings
  
  
• Participating in IEP meetings
  
  
• Participating in check-ins with students
  
  
• Monitoring student credit recovery progress as it relates to meeting
  graduation requirements
  
  
• Reviewing the need for summer school; work with students and parents on summer school credit recovery requests
  
  
• Running groups or individual sessions via synchronous or asynchronous means
  
  
• Supporting students’ post-secondary information gathering and exploration
  
  
• Providing letters of recommendation
  
  
• Preparing students for the transition to high school

Mental Health Social Workers:

During the school closure, mental health social workers are busy working to support students through our elementary and middle schools by:

• Reaching out to 504 students
  
  
• Reaching out to students on caseloads for check-in
  
  
• Participating in check-ins with students
  
  
• Running groups or individual sessions via synchronous or asynchronous means
  
  
• Assisting classroom teachers with SEL needs
  
  
• Assisting with crisis situations within the district 
  
  
• Pushing in support for classes with the second step and other SEL supports
  
  
• Assisting in Level of Care Assessment (as needed)

School Social Workers:

During the school closure, school social workers can support students through District 300 elementary, middle, and high schools by:

• Completing SEL testing/screening
  
  
• Completing reports for SEL domains
  
  
• Run groups or individual sessions via synchronous or asynchronous means
  
  
• Assist classroom teachers with SEL needs
  
  
• Push in support for classes with the second step and other SEL supports
  
  
• Assist with Level of Care Assessments (as needed)

SEL/Mental Health Resources For Parents:

211:

211 is a free service in Kane and McHenry Counties intended to inform callers where they may find support for a variety of potential issues. Specialists are on hand twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Computer and internet access is not required. Translation is available in over 150 languages. Callers of all ages can use the service as often as needed.

211 can offer access to the following types of resources:

Basic Human Needs: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance.

Physical and Mental Health: crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, Medicaid and Medicare, services specific to cancer, early childhood development and more.

Employment Support: unemployment benefits, financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, and education programs.

Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: home health care, adult daycare, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation, and homemaker services.

In Kane County, 211 has texting capability for people who prefer to text rather than call 211. The number to text 211 for Kane County residents will be 898-211. By the end of October 2020, the texting service will be operational for business hours only: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday- Friday. During this time, if someone texts after business hours, a return text will confirm the current hours and ask that if they have questions outside these hours, please CALL 211. By the first week of January 2021, the texting service will be available 24/7.

In McHenry County, 211 texting capability is not yet available but hop to have this feature available later this fall. To receive 211 services, the person requesting assistance will need to dial 211. However, McHELP is an app that was designed for students but is available to anyone. The app can be downloaded via Google Play, Apple’s iTunes, or on the App Store. The McHELP app does allow text capability and is expanded to provide support for the following: A way out for Substance Abuse, Information & Referral via 211, Helping links via McHenry County, Mental Health Board Q.P.R Suicide Prevention.

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL):

CASEL CARES is a new initiative that connects the SEL community with experts to address how mental health awareness can be most helpful in response to today’s circumstances. This resource is designed to support educators, parents, and anyone who works with children.

Second Step:

These resources are for Educators and Families to help young people learn the social-emotional skills they need to get through the challenging events happening right now during the COVID pandemic.

Greater Elgin Family Services:

The School-Based Team continues to help students/families work toward their goals and are ready to tackle any necessary barriers to the current ‘shelter in place’ has put onto the family. The flyers in English and Spanish outline the services they provide along with some tips for families that can help with their child’s mental health.

FSA Flyer

Folleto de FSA

D300/Rosecrance Substance Abuse Program: 

The Rosecrance School Assistance Program (SAP) Counselors are available and checking in weekly with their students. The SAP’s are calling students and parents to schedule telehealth therapy sessions. SAP’s are providing parent support and discussing with families ways to develop structure and healthy at homeschooling habits. If you have a student who is currently not receiving these services and you would like support for your student, reach out to a school administrator for additional information.

Illinois State Board of Education Mental Health Resources: 

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has compiled statewide resources to help support families and students during these unprecedented times.

Midwest PBIS Network:

The Midwest PBIS Network supports school-wide behavior expectations and social-emotional learning.  As schools have been forced to shift to home they have shifted their support to provide at-home behavior expectations and social-emotional learning. This link will provide parents some additional information for structure at home if you are needing some consistent expectations

We have found ourselves in unprecedented times and school as we knew it has changed.  COVID restrictions have us confined to our homes and participating virtually in lessons to continue education as best we can. We understand that each person is handling the crisis in different ways. Even though we are not in school, we want parents and/or guardians to know that students have access to teachers, counselors, social workers, psychologists, administrators, and others through virtual means. We have many social-emotional and mental health resources available to parents/guardians to assist your student during this time.