Middle School Mental Health Initiative
With the support of an anonymous donor, Spark* SF Public Schools and the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) facilitated an investment of over $15 million to expand mental health services for SFUSD middle school students over the next four years.
The DCYF-SFUSD Middle School Beacon Centers Mental Health Initiative will provide culturally-relevant mental health and wellness services for thousands of middle school students through comprehensive health education and direct clinical services. More than half of all mental health challenges manifest before the age of 14 and reaching vulnerable children and their families through school-linked supports provides a viable and scalable way to address mental health challenges early.
“This investment will enable more access to timely mental health and wellness support for thousands of young people. It is truly one of the best gifts anyone could give our students during this time of unprecedented challenges.”
The initiative is designed to support the implementation of SFUSD’s Comprehensive Community Schools Framework utilizing the Beacon Model. Each Beacon Center is operated on-campus by a nonprofit agency that works closely with their school’s leadership to provide targeted and time-sensitive services that address the unique needs of the school community.
Starting with three schools in the fall of 2021 and gradually expanding, the Initiative will eventually serve students in 13 middle schools and three K-8 schools with existing Beacon Centers.
SFUSD has long been a leader in implementing systems to support the emotional and physical well-being of students, including implementing restorative and trauma-informed practices. The new middle school mental health initiative is one of the first school-based programs for adolescent health and wellness of its kind, and will also expand on San Francisco’s Wellness Initiative, a program that is currently integrated at 19 high school campuses.
Wellness Centers provide safe, confidential settings where youth can access health experts and gain the skills they need to cope with complex issues such as stress, trauma, suicidal ideations, bullying, depression, self-esteem, drug and alcohol use, sexual health, and relationships. Students learn positive, lifelong habits that contribute to their well-being and success, and ultimately, to the health of the communities in which they live.