ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH
DeLaine Branum
Elementary Counselor
Parkston School District 33-3
Pheasant- Palace Chapter
Each year our staff chooses different books to read and share. My book is Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz, M.D. Her recommendation is for all to be informed, alert to, and intercede early. This means that parents, school personal, and others must have instruction, training, etc. to identify and respond. How and where do parents go? At one of our chapter meetings, the members discussed putting together a directory of local area services.
Our principal, Rob Monson, is participating with a project called South Dakota Voices for Children. Welmark is sponsoring this project that coincides with DR. Shaywitz's recommendation. It has a new online resource help for parents and families dealing with emotional, mental or behavioral problems. These issues certainly could impede our students being academically successful. This brings us to the "No Child Left Behind" situation that involves all of us to one degree or another. "It is estimated that as many as one in five children or adolescents may have a mental health problem that can be identified and treated." This tool can help counselors help direct parents where to go for help. They have a "Roadmap to Care that directs parents with YES & NO approaches while searching for help.
SOUTH DAKOTA Online Mental Health directory is at www.sdsuicideprevention.org/mhdirectory
Parents using this directory can search by city, clinician, or mental health clinic.
Susan Randall, executive director, of South Dakota Voices for Children, is the one to contact for more information. www.sdvoicesforchildren.org 605 367-9667
Janet Kittams-Lalley, clinical director for HELP!Line, may be contacted at 605 274-1419.