Our speaker June 19th was Jenn Hudson, Student Mental Health Support Specialist with the Lake Stevens School District. In that role she helps students for any reason when they have to deal with pressures of school, home and life. She is part of a team the District has to ensure that students are successful in school. There are specialists at both middle schools--Lake Stevens and Northlake--as well as at Cavelero Mid-High and the High School, where Jenn is based. The Team also includes an Intervention Specialist who splits his time between Cavelero and the High School.
While the Specialists are based at the secondary schools they are certainly available for all seven elementary schools and the Early Learning Center. Another vital member of the Team is Bruce, a golden Labrador retriever who is trained as a service dog to help students for whatever reason.
Jenn shared that students that utilize the Support Services can meet individually with the Specialists and/or as part of a group of peers. The group meetings can happen as often as weekly and vary at the time of the school day so as not to impact the learning opportunities for students. When a student comes to seek help, the student is told that the specialist has three "bosses." 1) the student, 2) the student's parents, guardians or caregiver and, 3) the school district. There is some confidentiality about what a student shares, but, if the student expresses self-harm intentions or intentions to hurt others, then the caregivers and school district have to be advised.
During the current worldwide pandemic and schools being closed, it's been harder on the Team to support the students. They have found ways including using online meeting platforms to support the students.
The Support Team also put together a video primarily aimed at School District Staff--but, certainly applicable to all of us--on ways to take care of our own mental health during the pandemic. Are you taking care of yourself?
Jennifer was born and raised in the Snohomish County area. Prior to her work in the mental health field, she worked in the medical sector at a local orthopedic surgery center and at Providence Hospital.
She chose to pursue a career in the mental health field because she is dedicated to helping people heal and find their own power. Jennifer graduated from Western Washington University with her Bachelor’s in Human Services in 2006 and Bastyr University with her Master’s in Behavioral Sciences in 2008. Beginning in 2007, she worked in the Child Advocacy Program through Compass Health at Dawson Place in Everett—an organization we are very familiar with. Jennifer specialized in helping youth and families heal from the impact of sexual abuse. She has extensive training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Informed modalities of care, and ACES. Additionally, Jennifer is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington and is a Child Mental Health Specialist.
In 2013, she began work for the Educational Service District, the regional agency that supports all of the school districts in the northern part of western Washington as a Child Mental Health Support Specialist based in Lake Stevens. In 2014, she began working directly for our school district as a Student Mental Health Support Specialist. Jennifer split her time between Cavelero Mid High School and Lake Stevens High School until a few years ago when the District was able to expand these important services and hire Mental Health Specialists at each secondary building. Now, she works primarily at Lake Stevens High School and helps fulfill a District role with support teams, crisis intervention, and mental health committees.
Just like her time at Western, Jenn is a proud Viking Staff and community member. She and Peter, her husband of 21 years, live in Lake Stevens and they are proud to be part of our community.
This presentation was part of our long "State of the School District" series. We’ve heard from Superintendent Amy Beth Cook, twice—the first time one year into her tenure and then again at her five year mark. Mollie Langum, Head of Nutrition Services, reported on how a good diet is important for a good education. Ron Moag, who, at the time, oversaw the Career & Technical Education programs of the District, told us how these programs provide students with a wide variety of opportunities in careers and vocations. Next, Jason Pearson shared how athletics are an important part of a student’s development. Kim LaFortune followed with a program on how the District helps high schoolers navigate the sometimes challenging process of job searches, job applications, resumes and the myriad of scholarships that students have available to them.
Then we were visited by two students who talked to us about the DECA program and how it prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. High School Band Director Neil Proff joined us the next year and shared his passion about music and how that is just as important as some of the other parts of a student’s time in the education system. Last year, Matt Wyant, the Director of the District’s Early Learning Center, enthusiastically talked about the critical time in a child’s development—ages 3 to 4—and how the preschool program helps these young students develop their minds in a positive learning environment. We already have a speaker for next year as part of this series.
Thank you Jenn for sharing about this vital component of our School District. No doubt, students are better off when they know there's a support system available to them outside of their own families and friends.