One of the biggest trends in education today is the growing need for mental health services. The need is noticeable in Cambridge City Schools as well, which is why the district recently took steps to address the need.
“There is definitely a need that has been recognized by our teachers and administrators,” Student Service Director Carmen Feldner said. “We looked at several options and talked to several agencies to find the best solution possible.”
At the November Board of Education meeting, the board approved an agreement with Southeastern Ohio Counseling Center (SOCC) to provide mental health services in our district.
"I am truly excited and looking forward to this partnership with Cambridge City Schools” said Mandy McGlumphy, CEO and owner of SOCC. “This collaboration allows us to invest in the well-being of students by creating meaningful connections within the school setting. Together, we can ensure that every student has the support they need to succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.”
According to the agreement, SOCC will provide on-site mental health professionals – a qualified mental health specialist and a licensed clinician – to deliver services to both agency-affiliated clients and other students via a contractual agreement with the school district.
The contract with SOCC facilitates the inclusion of non-client students, enabling them to access SOCC’s services with the permission of their parents or guardians. Having professionals on site allows them to immediately address urgent needs within the school, consult with school staff to address students’ mental health and behavioral needs, to help link students to mental health services, and to coordinate with their families more easily.
“Southeastern Ohio Counseling has experience with this model in another similar school district,” Feldner explained. “They started with a similar agreement and in a short amount of time, they increased their counselors in the district to seven. I expect we will see a similar increase in our district as well.”
The needs of students have increased over the years and school districts have stepped up to help meet those needs. Those working in education recognize that schools provide more than just the basic reading, writing, and arithmetic lessons they have always provided.
Recently, the need for mental health services has grown. CCSD and SOCC believe this partnership can help meet some of those needs.
“Over my 23 years in the mental health field, I’ve witnessed a significant shift in students' ability to focus on education due to increasing challenges with basic needs and other stressors being brought into the classroom,” McGlumphy said. “By providing mental health services in schools, we can address these underlying issues, offering students the support they need to feel safe, stable, and ready to learn.
“When we help students manage their emotional and behavioral challenges, we create an environment where education can become their priority,” McGlumphy continued. “Schools are not just places for learning - they are lifelines for so many children, and mental health services are critical to their success."
The new agreement begins on January 6, 2025, with the mental health specialist in the district daily and the licensed clinician for one day per week to start. As the case load grows, the clinician will increase the number of days in the district.
While there is a base cost to the district, SOCC will typically receive payment by billing the child’s insurance. As families complete the intake process, the amount billed to the district will decrease.
Cambridge City Schools continues to maintain a relationship with professionals from other mental health agencies that are successfully working with our students.
“With the Southeastern Ohio Counselling Center, we believe we have found an appropriate and affordable way to address the mental health and behavioral concerns we face in our district,” Feldner concluded. “We are looking forward to implementing this new structure.”