Central Catholic High School His first counselor in Bloomington (CCHS) was devoted solely to mental health. The role is funded by a $1 million donation from ensemble members Jan Egbers and Jim Bob Morris.

Head of School Sean Foster said conversations about increasing mental health services at CCHS have been ongoing for the past two years. Egbers and Morris were included early.

“We’ve been developing this for a while, so we have a structure, we’ve built everything now. As long as we get it done,” he said.

Foster said the idea is to list open positions for a wellness counselor in the winter and find someone ready for the job at the beginning of the next academic year.

filling a gap

Filling the position is important to management, Foster added. When the school learned something two years ago Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study Approximately 40% of students highlighted He said that there were persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and that this was worrying.

“If that’s true, that means four out of every 10 kids in our building have these feelings, these thoughts,” Foster said.

At that time, the school spoke with each student about where they thought CCHS could improve. Survey results showed perceived gaps in mental health services, which led to conversations with Egbers and Morris to fund a solution. Finally, they donated money for a wellness consultant.

CCHS currently has two other traditional guidance counselors and this year hired a learning behavior specialist dedicated to helping students with learning or behavioral challenges.

Open to students, staff and alumni

The counselor will serve the entire student population, currently 318, but Foster said that number is expected to increase by about 100 over the next four years. Staff and administration also need to benefit from training, he said, “so we know how to better engage and help our students.”

Saying that graduates should also benefit from this, Foster added that CCHS is in communication with its students after graduation and expects the same from the healthy life advisor. For example, when students go to university for the first time.

“They will have a familiar, friendly voice that they know they can call if they run into any issues, that they can reach out to,” Foster said.

Contributing to a larger campaign

Foster said the gift from Egbers and Morris is the largest gift CCHS has ever received. It also brought the school closer by 10%. Realizes its 10 million dollar campaignIt was announced earlier this year. Foster said the school is now 90% of the way there.

Mental health is just one part of the larger campaign. The school is also interested in increasing tuition assistance opportunities for students and gradually increasing teachers’ salaries because teachers currently earn less than their public school counterparts, Foster said.

CCHS has already used some funds to replace the track and grass on the football field.