Durham Magazine Oct/Nov by Triangle Media Partners

Durham Magazine Oct/Nov

SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR STUDENTS AT DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCAL LEADERS DESCRIBE WRAPAROUND SERVICES OFFERED TO DPS KIDS I N PA RT N E R S H I P W I T H

urham Public Schools and other local organizations vice president of health strategies at the American Heart are working to provide a host of supportive services Association and co-chair of the School Health Advisory and programs to bolster students and prioritize Council – a group of organizations, school personnel, student wellness in order to contribute to the overall students, parents and other stakeholders working together to success of students in the DPS system. ensure all students and staff have opportunities to be healthy “Students need to develop their [social and emotional] and that schools provide a healthy learning environment – competencies and should receive explicit instruction in shares: that the SHAC worked for over a year to update Policy the same way that they’re receiving other major areas of 6140-Student Wellness by engaging coalition members and academic development,” DPS Social-Emotional and Mental through listening sessions with DPS stakeholders. The SHAC Health Coordinator Dr. Chris Soto shares. “Every one of is now working on a companion document of procedures and our elementary schools for the last two years has been regulations, which provides implementation guidance. implementing a [social and “It is important for students to emotional] learning curriculum, maintain their physical health and and right now we’re in the process receive proper nutrition in order of selecting an approved approach to take advantage of educational for middle and high schools. opportunities,” she says. “Durham “We have six agencies in Public Schools is committed to Durham that provide clinical providing a school environment mental health counselors [at] the that promotes student wellness, school site. … It closes the gap that proper nutrition, nutrition is often experienced when we education and regular physical “Latino youth and families are extraordinarily resilient have families with students who activity as part of the total and bring vibrant contributions to our schools and need support but have a hard time learning experience.” community,” says El Futuro’s Kerry Brock. getting them there after school. Kayla Grigsby, community “[DPS has also] partnered with the Duke Center for Child awareness coordinator for Durham’s Partnership for & Family Health, and they do trauma-informed leadership Children, says that the organization provides a host of training. The national traumas of COVID-19 and social injustice resources to support kids younger than 5 years old before tend to exacerbate anxiety and depression when it already they attend school. Services are centered on child care, exists, particularly in marginalized groups, and so we are but Kayla says the partnership also helps connect families trying to take a more trauma-informed approach. … I believe to mental health care, prepare for kindergarten and share our support services have expanded proportionally to need.” resources. “[We] partner with DPS on a Transition-toThe Durham Public Schools Board of Education voted Kindergarten (TTK) program,” she says. “During the summer in February to adopt health and wellness guidelines within we typically host different events in conjunction with DPS Policy 6140-Student Wellness; an implementation of the out in areas of Durham to make sure that [families] have the plan is being finalized for this fall. Mel Downey-Piper, resources and they understand what’s needed for that first F I N D A C O M P L E T E L I S T O F H E A LT H Y D U R H A M P A R T N E R S AT

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