School-based mental health services for Northampton Area High School and Northampton Area Middle School students are now being offered.

The Northampton Area School District Board of Education voted unanimously 9-0 to approve a services agreement, effective Feb. 25, with St. Luke’s Physician Group Inc. to provide behavioral health services through Dec. 31, 2022.

The services, provided at no cost to the district, include counseling for trauma, anxiety, depression and other mental health matters.

School district and St. Luke’s officials made a presentation about the program for NASD school directors and administrators prior to the vote at the Feb. 24 board meeting.

“It’s not so much a new concept,” NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said after the school board meeting. “It’s a focus in today’s society, which is good for our students and families.”

In introducing the school board presentation, Kovalchik said school district goals include being a trauma-informed school. School directors attended a seminar on the topic. The goal is to increase awareness of the emotional needs of students.

“This is part of that,” Kovalchik continued. “The state has reduced funds (for trauma coping programs in schools). We’re partnering with St. Luke’s for this program.”

NASD Assistant Superintendent Robert Steckel added, “This represents a year’s worth of cooperation. It’s a districtwide effort.”

Program goals are to increase student attendance, student self-confidence, awareness of mental health, academic achievement and community health.

The program will endeavor to decrease student detentions, high school dropout rate and mental health stigma.

The program motto is “Your Emotional Strength Supported,” or “Yess!”

Initially, services will be provided at the high school and middle school. Plans are to provide them at district elementary schools in the future.

Jody Missmer, behavioral health network administrator at St. Luke’s University Health Network, said, “For Amie and I, this represents our life’s work,” referring to Amie Allanson-Dundon, psychotherapist-manager with St. Luke’s ambulatory services, who also participated in the school board presentation.

Missmer said, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2019 statistics, “50 percent of adult mental health problems start before the age of 14” and “suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents.”

According to the CDC, “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, behavior problems, anxiety and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children,” Missmer added.

Pointing to a map of Lehigh and Northampton counties displayed on the meeting room screen, Steckel said, “One of the barriers is geography. Our goal is to bring mental health services into the schools.”

Christina Thrash, NAHS counselor, compared 2018-19 and 2019-20 statistics for student assistance program referrals and student attendance improvement cases at the high school, cognitive behavioral intervention for trauma in 2019-20 for students at the high school and middle school and Valley Youth House individual counseling for students K-12 in 2018-19. Each program involved 60 students to 100 students.

Concerning Valley Youth House counseling, Thrash said, “A lot of our students benefited. Unfortunately, with funding changes, it’s no longer an option.”

Jennifer Borzillo, NAMS counselor, added, “The benefit of having St. Luke’s is that they’re able to get the funding.”

The presenters agreed NASD is no different from other districts regarding mental health concerns.

“It’s across the county, across the state and across the nation,” Borzillo said.

A St. Luke’s psychotherapist, on site during the school day, will provide individual or family sessions, group psychotherapy and screening for psychiatric evaluation. There will be appointments for counseling in a secure room in the health offices during school hours at the high school and middle school, with communication links provided for students and parents to a psychiatric advanced practitioner during nonschool hours.

The psychotherapist and practitioner are trained, licensed and certified.

A student needs the consent of parents or legal guardians.

Medical information will be protected. The NASD’s solicitor and insurance company have reviewed the program.

Students and parents will be informed of the program via email, printed material, district website and parents’ night meetings.

The NASD Board of Education will meet 6:30 p.m. March 9 in the administration building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton.