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School-Based Mental Health Services

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Supporting mental wellness for children & their families in school
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Wilder partners with schools across Saint Paul and the Twin Cities to provide school-based mental health and wellness services that are culturally centered, trauma informed and impactful for the whole family. Our diverse school-based mental health team supports the unique identities and experiences of students and their families, right in school! Children and families receive culturally affirming, holistic, therapeutic support, while school teachers and staff access trauma-informed consultation. We support mental wellness by:

  • Stabilizing and improving mental health
  • Providing cultural affirmation and role modeling for students
  • Improving behaviors at home, in school and in the community
  • Helping maintain or improve school success
  • Increasing parental involvement in the child’s education and school activities
  • Inspire hope for the future

If your child or student is having social, emotional, behavioral or any mental health challenges in school:

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Contact

Phone: 651-325-2766
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Schools are a natural setting, where the kids already are.

Knowing firsthand what my students are experiencing helps me as a therapist. I don't know how I could do therapy without knowing how it feels in their world.

Wilder School-Based Mental Health Therapist

Why #SupportMentalWellness in Schools for Youth: 
10 Reasons Schools Should Have Youth Mental Health Services On-Site

Students

87% of parents their child's life is better as a result of school-based mental health services. 
(Source: Wilder Research)

Parents

80% of parents said their ability to parent increased as a result of school-based mental health services.
(Source: Wilder Research)

Teachers

99% of teachers said school-based mental health therapists have helped them respond appropriately to students in distress.
(Source: Wilder Research)

Hlub Zoo: Mental Health Program for Hmong Youth

Hlub Zoo (pronounced LOO-ZHONG, dual-meaning of love well, grow well in Hmong) is for Hmong students and their families and available at these Saint Paul schools: 

  • Community School of Excellence
  • Harding High School
  • Hmong College Prep Academy
  • Humboldt High School
  • Mississippi Creative Arts Elementary
  • Phalen Lake Elementary
  • Saint Paul Music Academy

Call 651-325-2766 for more information about Hlub Zoo.

To learn more about Hlub Zoo, watch the video below

To watch the English version, click here.

Kofi: Mental Health Program for Black & African American Youth

Kofi is offered for Black and African American students at these Saint Paul schools:

  • Benjamin E. Mays IB World School
  • Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet
  • Central High School
  • Global Arts Plus Upper Campus
  • Hazel Park Prep Academy
  • Maxfield Elementary School
  • Obama Elementary School
  • Ramsey Middle School

Call 651-325-2766 for more information about Kofi.

Rajada Cafimaad: Mental Health Program for Somali Youth

Rajada Cafimaad (pronounced RA-ja-da aaf-MAAD) translates to “healthy hope” and supports Somali students and families at the following school:

  • Highwood Hills Elementary School

Call 651-325-2766 for more information about Rajada Cafimaad.

Sembrando: Mental Health Program for Latinx Youth

Sembrando (meaning to plant or sow) is for students and families of Latinx descent and available at these Saint Paul schools: 

  • Academia Cesar Chavez
  • Wellstone Elementary School

Call 651-325-2766 for more information about Sembrando.

ThayGeMoo: Mental Health Program for Karen Youth

ThayGeMoo (pronounced tay-gee-moo, meaning "living root" in Karen) is for Karen students and their families and available at this Saint Paul school: 

  • Washington Tech High School

Call 651-325-2766 for more information about ThayGeMoo.

To learn more about ThayGeMoo, watch the video below

To watch the English version, click here.

Therapeutic Teaching Model: Supporting Mental Health in Classrooms

The Therapeutic Teaching Model is a unique partnership that combines education and therapy within the classroom setting. Through this program, educators and mental health professionals work together to meet the academic, behavioral and mental health needs of students so they can learn and succeed. 

Therapeutic Teaching Model of school-based mental health services are available at the following schools in the Twin Cities:

  • North Education Center
  • South Education Center

A Team to Support Each Student and Family
Teachers: Our teachers are experts in supporting students with unique needs. Teachers focus on academic fundamentals as well as self-advocacy and social-emotional skills.
Therapists: Our therapists come from the Wilder, an organization that has provided school-based mental health services in the Twin Cities for more than 25 years. Therapists are able to support students in and out of the classroom as well as entire families.
Family Navigators: Our family navigators aid families in accessing needed support and resources: food banks, housing and furniture support, health systems and more.
Students and Families: Each student and family plays an important and active role in the Therapeutic Teaching Model to foster strong relationships between school staff, therapists and you.

    Call 651-325-2766 for more information about the Therapeutic Teaching Model.

    Access to Mental Health Services in Schools for All Youth

    School children wearing backpacks stand outside a bus

    Wilder therapists and counselors support mental wellness for children of all cultural backgrounds in several Saint Paul schools:

    • Battle Creek Middle School
    • Bruce Vento Elementary School
    • Cherokee Heights Elementary
    • Crossroads Elementary Science and Montessori Schools
    • Dayton’s Bluff Achievement Plus Elementary School
    • High School for Recording Arts
    • Riverview Elementary School
    • Saint Paul Music Academy
    • Washington Tech High School

    Meet Our School-Based Mental Health Team

    We have been partnering with educators to provide mental health and wellness services through school-based programs for 30 years!

    Click the image to learn more about who we are and why we support mental wellness.

    Read Courageous Stories and Insights about Mental Health in Schools

    Michael Brooks, a school-based therapist for Wilder, outside his office at Ramsey Middle School

    Wilder School-Based Mental Health Expands Beyond Elementary Schools in Saint Paul

    Michael Brooks thinks every school would benefit from an on-site mental health professional. “Every school, nationwide,” says Michael, a school-based therapist with Wilder Community Mental Health and Wellness. “You cannot ignore the fact...More about this story »

    Mary Her, a therapist with Hlub Zoo school-based mental health program at Wilder

    School-Based Mental Health Participant Finds Hope and Healing With Persistence and Support

    Emily was a smart and outgoing elementary school student. She was so high achieving that her teacher was initially reluctant to refer her to Hlub Zoo (pronounced LOO-ZHONG), Wilder’s school-based mental health service for students o...More about this story »

    Wilder school based mental health, Latinx students

    Wilder School-Based Therapists Support Latinx Mental Health Through Stronger Cultural Identities

    Maria Rios knows from personal experience how a strong cultural identity can help foster a sense of belonging. Maria, a Wilder school-based mental health therapist, moved to the United States from Mexico at age 7 and attended school in W...More about this story »

    Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment Logo and Minnesota State Arts Board logo

    This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant to the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a special legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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