One Volunteer's Story
I became knowledgeable of the TeenScreen Program while attending the National Association of School Social Work Conference during the 2003 school year. After hearing a presentation on the TeenScreen Program, I knew this program would be a valuable program for students in my school community.
When I returned home, I immediately began to seek school district support for TeenScreen. Several presentations were given before key stakeholders, including the school district’s Board of Trustees. After a well-attended community meeting on the subject, the school board agreed to proceed with the implementation of TeenScreen, but they were unable to provide funding or additional staff due to existing fiscal constraints.
Dedicated to bringing mental health screening to area youth, I called upon colleagues in private practice to donate their valuable time and expertise to the program. Several volunteered to serve as clinicians, donating four hours each week to TeenScreen. The City of Jackson’s Mayor’s Youth Initiative provided additional staff to assist with screening, and the director of a local outpatient-counseling center on the campus of a local university agreed to see families who received a referral for a full mental health evaluation, at no cost. A meeting was held with our local Multi-Agency Assessment and Planning Team and they agreed to pay for transportation and further evaluation for families in need. The local Catholic Charities Program also joined as a partner in our efforts, providing mobile crisis services. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health partnered to provide funding. Mississippi Families As Allies a statewide, family nonprofit organization dedicated to providing care to children and adolescents with mental and emotional problems pledged their support. Mississippi Families For Kids a nonprofit adoption advocacy agency partnered as a voice for children with mental health issues.
The Jackson Public School District’s TeenScreen program would not exist without these dedicated volunteers, and the community’s willingness to provide a System of Care via Rap A Round Services to support mental health screening for youth and other mental health services to maintain students in our schools and community.
Our school and local community have and continued to demonstrate their dedication to the growth and development of our youth through it’s continued support of TeenScreen.
Gloria Whitley, LCSW
Coordinator, Social Services/ TeenScreen Program
Jackson Public School District
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Local mental health checkup programs throughout the country benefit from the volunteer efforts of mental health, health and educational professionals, graduate students, and other dedicated advocates. There are many ways to contribute time and talent to local screening programs:
- Community members can educate communities about the problems of unidentified mental illness and suicide risk in youth by organizing informational meetings or forums.
- Interested individuals can plan fundraising events to support local screening programs.
- Non-professionals can complete the administrative tasks necessary to run a screening program, such as mailings, photocopying, etc.
- Psychologists, clinical social workers, other qualified health professionals, and students enrolled in graduate mental health programs may be able to volunteer time.
- Social workers, nurses, other qualified health professionals, school counselors and graduate students in any of these areas may be able to provide case management support.
- Local health and mental health professionals and agencies may be able to offer assistance to families of youth identified by the screening process.
To learn more about the Programs and Initiatives offered through the National Center, click here.
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