Arlington Public Schools Receives DESE Grant To Hire Social Workers

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington Public Schools has received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to hire one short-term Social Emotional Learning (SEL) coach and two short-term social workers, who will work with elementary, middle, and high school staff in their SEL work with students.

The FY2022: Supporting Students’ Social Emotional Learning, Behavioral & Mental Health, and Wellness through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (SEL & Mental Health Grant) provided $350,000 to be used in areas that “...relate to social-emotional and behavioral health for students, staff and families.”thanks>

Stephanie Tovias and Bernadette Murphy are both experienced social workers whose work in the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and Mental Health Screening processes will include running small groups with students, meeting with individual students through referrals, reaching out to families, facilitating outpatient therapy referrals, and collaborating with our school counselors, social workers and nurses. thanks>

Lindsey Minder is joining staff member Laura Rodriguez as an additional SEL Coach. She will be supporting staff in the planning and co-teaching of Second Step, RULER, Responsive Classroom, and mindfulness.thanks>

Additionally, the grant funds will be used to pay Youth Mental Health First Aid trainers to work with Arlington's educators so they are better able to recognize mental health risk factors and warning signs in our adolescent students and take action if they see a problem or crisis developing. It will also provide Responsive Classroom training for elementary and middle school teachers.

At Ottoson Middle School this spring, a third focus of the grant will be centered on refocusing student voice and community through a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-led endeavor grown from student affinity groups. Outside facilitators and trainers will be partnering with the entire OMS community for a whole day experiential learning focused on building community to strengthen the connections and belonging students feel in 7th and 8th grade.

For additional information about DESE's SEL & Mental Health Grant, click here.