Allentown School District Partners With Cook Center for Human Connection for Mental Health Services

 

Please direct inquiries to:
Melissa Reese, Communications Manager 
Phone: 484-705-3356
email: ASDCommunications@allentownsd.org

Allentown School District Partners With Cook Center for Human Connection for Mental Health Services

ALLENTOWN, PA — On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Allentown School District Board of School Directors approved a partnership with the Cook Center for Human Connection to host eight customized Mental Health Workshop Series sessions for parents and caregivers to address mental health concerns in the District.

“Addressing mental health is a major focus of the Allentown School District and was highlighted in our Strategic Plan Lighting the Way - A Blueprint for Innovation and Excellence 2030.  Focusing on the priority of Safety & Whole Child Development, partnerships like this will help us cultivate conditions where all students feel safe, valued, empowered, and loved,” said Dr. Carol D. Birks, Allentown School District’s Superintendent / Chief Executive Officer. “The services provided by this partnership with the Cook Center move us toward this priority’s goal to partner with families, students, and community to promote, apply, and access strategies and resources to support physical, social, and mental wellness.

The Cook Center for Human Connection is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing suicide, providing mental health support, and nurturing human connections essential for individual flourishing. The foundation focuses on supporting children, families, and schools with mental health resources. The Cook Center will host eight Mental Health Workshop Series sessions (four each in English and Spanish) and provide one-on-one individualized parent coaching with a therapist.

This series will address urgent concerns facing families, including depression, anxiety, bullying, suicidality, addiction, trauma, and more. Additionally, the District is securing access to unlimited family coaching for all District parents and caregivers. Families can access weekly or biweekly one-on-one video calls with a coach and 24/7 messaging support.

The partnership also calls for the Cook Center to provide technical assistance, quarterly data meetings, and marketing and communication support. District families will also have free access to ParentGuidance.org, which offers more than seventy on-demand courses designed by licensed mental health professionals to help parents support their own mental health and that of their families. The platform also features an “Ask-A-Therapist” option, where families can submit questions anonymously to licensed therapists. The District anticipates the program beginning after the Winter Break. 

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