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Students need extra support social workers say

News-Topic - 4/4/2021

Apr. 1—Social workers at the local high schools say that the need for support for high school students struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression has significantly increased.

Home visits that social workers make to check on students struggling with their mental health have tripled since the pandemic started, said Beth Hinshaw, the social worker at South Caldwell High School. Several times Hinshaw and the school resource officer have made a visit after someone reported that a student might hurt himself or herself, she said.

"It's called crisis intervention," she said. "We conduct well checks at school and sometimes at home to evaluate the mental health status of students to make sure they are handling issues in a healthy way."

Social worker Ashley McKinney at West Caldwell High School said that from the start of the school year to the end of February she had made about 175 home visits. In previous years, she would average 70-80 from August to February.

"Mental health and generalized isolation are at the root of teens that are struggling with depression and anxiety," she said. "Not having that direct contact with students has been challenging for everyone involved."

Hinshaw said that classes have been mostly online, and schools have seen a big drop in both online and in-person attendance because students do not feel engaged in what they're doing.

Many students have trouble finding motivation when it comes to online classes, and like a domino effect, mental health has declined as a result of all these challenges, said Jennifer Crowe, the social worker for Hibriten High School.

Crowe said students' day-to-day life changed drastically in only a year, and one way she has tried to help students is by networking with the community to find resources for students and their families.

As social workers, Hinshaw, Crowe and McKinney have all seen an increased need for food, transportation, technological devices and financial help among students and their families.

To help, they have been delivering food to students during the week. This includes non-perishable food like soup, ravioli, canned vegetables, breakfast foods, boxed meals, juice and water. They all also keep a room at each of their schools full of food, clothes, toiletries and basic supplies that students might need. They said the school and local community have been great about donating things to meet these basic needs.

Coordinating transportation has been tough too. Because of the remote-learning schedules, students may not have access to transportation. At South, Hinshaw brainstorms with families about their options.

"We help coordinate transportation for families who need to get to and from not only school but appointments and events as well," she said.

Students also haven't always had access to the technology they need for remote learning. Hinshaw mentioned that the Education Foundation of Caldwell County has helped by providing Chromebooks to students who don't have access to computers.

Hinshaw, Crowe and McKinney said that some parents have lost jobs during the pandemic, may have medical bills to pay, and some families have lost housing because of their financial problems. McKinney said that some students feel the need to get a job to help support their families.

However, the return to four days a week of in-person instruction gives Hinshaw, Crowe and McKinney hope for improvement. The hard part for students, said McKinney, will be reprogramming their minds, bodies, and schedules to four days of in-person learning instead of two. She thinks, however, that after students adjust, schools will see academic and emotional improvement.

"Building relationships is the most important thing we can do in education," she said. "Getting to know kids and meeting their needs will make a difference in how successful they are throughout their time here."

Reporter Carmen Boone can be reached at 828-610-8723

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