KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools officials instituted a 24-hour care lineto offer mental health support to students and staff.
The care line is one of several efforts under way to help employees throughout the coronavirus pandemic. KCKPS Director of Student Services Lisa M. Garcia-Stewart said the line is a way to ensure that needs are being met remotely "since we aren't physically together."
In another initiative, Trauma Sensitive Tuesdays, various mental health topics are discussed. This Tuesday, for example, employees will learn about neuroscience of self-care, setting boundaries and how to do yoga at a desk.
The district wants to make sure students, teachers and staff members have the support they need.
"I let them know if it isn't our resources that they want to seek, what are the other ways they are going to seek support? There isn't ever any shame in getting that support," Garcia-Stewart said. "I just remind them that they will go to a doctor if they had a broken foot, they would take their car to make sure it gets an oil change."
The district also has behavioral health social workers in every building. Garcia-Stewart said those workers are there to support students with any mental health needs they might have and support staff through training.
