Birmingham City Schools Receive $1 Million to Address Students’ Mental Health

Funding for Mental Health Support

The Birmingham City Council) has approved a funding of $1 million during their council meeting on June 4, 2024, to address mental health issues within Birmingham City Schools. This funding is specifically aimed at covering the salaries of 10 support counselors tasked with identifying students in need of emotional support and directing them to the relevant resources.

The Urgent Need for Support Counselors

Prior to receiving this funding, the Birmingham City School district had been operating with only part-time counselors. These counselors had to divide their time among multiple schools, hindering their ability to gain the trust of students and effectively assist those in need of mental health support. Dr. Taqua Lewis, the coordinator of school counseling, stated that having full-time counselors in each school would allow the students to receive continuous assistance, instilling a sense of safety and trust among them.

“All day, our students need to know that there’s someone to assist them. We all know that if you have some concerns that are on your mind, that’s going to supersede any academic learning that is going to occur. So, we want to address anything that’s going on with them socially and emotionally first to allow them to decompress and then move on to the academics,” Dr. Lewis explained.

Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

The introduction of the Social Emotional Learning curriculum has further revolutionized the approach to mental health in schools. This curriculum stipulates that students spend fifteen minutes before the start of their school day completing a wellness check with their teachers. “They’re learning how to be self-aware, how to regulate emotions, understanding bullying, and how to relate better to peers,” said School Psychologist Dr. Saterah Bigham. After the wellness checks, teachers assist in identifying students who display signs of needing more help and direct them to the support counselor.

Peer to Peer Counseling Program

Alongside these support strategies, select schools have implemented peer-to-peer counseling programs, adding another layer of emotional support for students. This initiative has been well-received and Dr. Lewis expresses hopes of expanding it to all schools during the current academic year.

This transformative approach to mental health in the education system is an example of how Birmingham City Schools are prioritizing their students’ wellbeing and setting the stage for better learning outcomes.