Stamford Public Schools (SPS) understands the profound impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on each of us, including our students. Many of our students are struggling with feelings of uncertainty, isolation and loneliness, experiencing loss and grief, or worries for the health of family and friends, resulting in an increased need for mental health & community support. We all know that these feelings can be magnified during the holiday season because of the increased stress and isolation of the cold winter months.
During these stressful and uncertain times, it is even more important to be sure our students and their families know where to go for support. As always, you can always reach out to your child’s school social worker, psychologist, or school counselor. In addition, following are a list of other resources:
- CSDE Educational, Safety, Mental Health and Food Insecurity Resources for Families and Students provides information concerning educational, safety, mental health, and food security resources and programs available for students and their families.
- Wrap CT - Connecting to Care offer guiding on finding someone to support your child’s mental health, as they recognize that it is just as important as finding a medical professional to help address physical well-being.
- Child Guidance Center provides Mobile Crisis Intervention Services 365 days a year to stabilize critical situations and prevent suicide, violence, and dangerous behaviors- Call 211
- Sandy Hook Promise: How to Help Children Cope with a Gun Violence Tragedy
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Save the Children: Ways Parents Can Help Children Cope with School Violence
Save the Children (Spanish Edition) -
Child Mind Institute: How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings
(Spanish and English resources available) -
Child Mind Institute: Helping Kids Cope with Frightening News
(Spanish and English resources available) -
CommonSense Media: How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War
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Mayo Clinic: Tips for Talking About Tragedy
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National Child Traumatic Stress Network (school shooting and mass violence resources)
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
The Stamford Schools now has its own internal mental health crisis team that responds to schools when a student is in crisis. In collaboration with school staff and community provides including Child Guidance Mobile Crisis we provide assessment and intervention as well as crisis stabilization support.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM
The Stamford School also has a Social Emotional Support team. This interdisciplinary team supports elementary schools who are dealing with a student with significate disruptive behavior. The team provides intervention, coaching and consultation to staff and the family to support the student and school needs and to help the student meet with success in the school.
Both programs are supervised by Joe O'Callaghan, LCSW Dept. Head for Social Work at the Stamford Schools. He can be reached at jocallaghan@stamfordct.gov
Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Chat
Feeling Like You Might Harm Yourself or Others?
Contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
24/7 Lifeline Chat
Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut
The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut provides individual, family and group therapy to children and adolescents as well as emergency mobile psychiatric services.
102 West Broad St
Stamford, Ct 096902
203-324-1627
Crisis Services 211
Family Centers
Family Centers provide mental health programs to children and adolescents, including school based health centers, as well as adults and families. In addition to their mental health programs they have many family center programs to support families in need.
60 Palmer's Hill Road
Stamford, CT 06902
Phone: 203-324-3167
Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers provides comprehensive health, dental and mental health services as well as school based health centers. Services include health care, psychotherapy, dental as well as telehealth.
22 Fifth Street
Stamford, CT 06905
203-323-8160
https://www.chc1.com/locations/stamford-fifth-street/
Stamford Health Tully Health Center
Tully Center provides comprehensive health services.
32 Strawberry Hill Court
Stamford, CT 06902
203-276-2000
https://www.stamfordhealth.org/
Person-to-Person
Person-to-Person provides comprehensive community and family support around basic needs, such as food, clothing, rental assistance and case management.
425 Fairfield Avenue
Building 1 Suite 111
Stamford, CT 06902
203-724-9111
Domus
Domus provides a variety of social services to young people from youth development programs, summer camps, job training and family advocacy.
83 Lockwood Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902
(203)-324-4277
Building One Community-The Center for Immigrant Opportunity
Building One Community provides comprehensive support to immigrants and their families.
75 Selleck Street
Stamford, Ct 06902
203-674-8585