Empowering Minds: A Fresh Approach to Mental Health in Schools

Advertisement

By Karen G. Foley

Less than half of public schools, 48 percent, report they can meet students’ mental health needs, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Today’s kids are dealing with a variety of challenges that can impact their mental well-being. These include social media comparisons, online bullying, the lasting effects of the pandemic, exposure to substances, financial difficulties, and possible abuse or family issues at home.

Battling the Unknown

Of all surveyed students, 42 percent report feeling persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third experience poor mental health. It’s not just kids living in underserved neighbourhoods.

Three young children of varying ethnicities sitting on the ground looking unhappy. One child has his arms around the other two.
Photo credit: JPA

Our kids need mental health support to learn, grow, and thrive. However, with schools being understaffed and overburdened, who steps in to make sure they get the care they need?

The Juvenile Protective Association (JPA) started asking this question a long time ago. For over a century, we have been working diligently to provide much-needed social-emotional and mental health care and support for kids, their parents, and teachers.

We partner with numerous schools in Chicago, providing support to children, educators, and parents. Our model is cost-effective, costing about half of what a school would pay if it hired its own counsellor, and it comes without the drawbacks. We handle the hiring, training, support, and evaluation of our therapists so that schools can focus on academics. We work in collaboration with our schools so they are in the know at all times.

A group of young Black children watching as an adult reads to them.
Photo credit: JPA

The impact has been significant. In schools where our programs are in place, we’ve seen 78 percent improvement across social, emotional, and mental health markers in students.

Support for All

The mental health care crisis doesn’t just affect students. It’s also taking a toll on their teachers. Sixty percent of K–12 educators cite it as their top safety concern. That’s why, JPA launched Connect 2 Kids (C2K) in 2020. C2K provides teachers with the tools they need to better understand their interactions with students. It leads to improved student behaviour and reduced teacher stress.

Teachers in our program meet with a counsellor (a trained mental health specialist) once a week to talk about classroom challenges, cultivate empathy for themselves and the students in their care, and develop support plans. Our consultants also conduct classroom observations, noting important teacher strengths as well as possible areas for attention. In collaboration with the teachers, we identify specific topics for classroom group programming aimed at meeting the social and emotional needs of students.

A group of Black students colouring at a big desk.
Photo credit: JPA

Ambitions for Change

We believe that every child is a strong, vibrant, and talented human inside. In the face of a rapidly evolving school mental health crisis, it takes creativity, tenacity, and teamwork to make sure Chicago’s kids have the support they need.

When kids and adults alike have the tools they need to create healthy, supported relationships, they learn more, achieve more, and have brighter futures. We believe every child in Chicago deserves nothing less.

Karen G. Foley, President and CEO of the Juvenile Protective Association, also previously served as President and CEO of The Hope Institute for Children and Families, serving children with autism and developmental delays across Illinois.

Education News

Introducing a New STEM Resource for Girls: The WISE Girls Toolkit

The toolkit is a practical, research-informed resource designed to foster STEM confidence in girls by blending identity work, mentorship, and hands-on STEM engagement.

Reading Engagement Insights Added to Beanstack’s AI-Powered Benny

Beanstack expands its responsible use of AI to measure students’ positive experience with reading.

National Principals of the Year Announced

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) have named the 2025–26 National Principals of the Year.

Is Your Child’s Literacy on Vacation? How Parents Can Beat the Summer Slide

Did you know students can lose up to two months of learning progress over summer break? Here's how to tackle the “summer slide” and keep kids engaged.

Join Our Newsletter

Get 10% off a subscription, monthly giveaways, and the latest updates—straight to your inbox!

Karen G. Foley
Karen G. Foley
Karen G. Foley, President and CEO of the Juvenile Protective Association, also previously served as President and CEO of The Hope Institute for Children and Families, serving children with autism and developmental delays across Illinois.

Advertisement

Read More

Introducing a New STEM Resource for Girls: The WISE Girls Toolkit

The toolkit is a practical, research-informed resource designed to foster STEM confidence in girls by blending identity work, mentorship, and hands-on STEM engagement.

Ready or (Definitely) Not: Learning to Teach in a Pandemic Classroom

To many in the field, a poor first year of teaching is the first step in an accepted, almost ritualistic career timeline. Perspectives on a teacher’s first year seem to have shifted, though, since my generation entered the workforce.

Reading Engagement Insights Added to Beanstack’s AI-Powered Benny

Beanstack expands its responsible use of AI to measure students’ positive experience with reading.

National Principals of the Year Announced

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) have named the 2025–26 National Principals of the Year.

Guardians of the Coast: Building Kids’ Confidence Through Art

I was recently involved with an art exhibition in the Thanet District of Kent, England, that helped students see themselves as artists, advocates, and changemakers.

Is Your Child’s Literacy on Vacation? How Parents Can Beat the Summer Slide

Did you know students can lose up to two months of learning progress over summer break? Here's how to tackle the “summer slide” and keep kids engaged.
thời tiết phú quốc 10 ngày tới | lotus flower slot machine online | game h5 la gì | kết quả xsmb net 30 ngày gần nhất | am muu va tinh yeu tap 731 | casino near me | grosvenor casino slot machines | cache creek casino california | seriöse online casinos | online casino no deposit bonus keep what you win | best credit card casino | du doan an giang | cổphieu68 | chém hoa quả | genting casino | dead or alive slot | slot mobile phones | 777 casino roulette | rocky gap casino | cherry gold casino | casino affiliate | trực tiếp copa america 2021 | casino pier seaside heights | slot machine probability | casino trực tuyến w88 | vegas casinos | captain jack slots | 777win casino | đánh cắp giấc mơ tập 1 | hạnh phúc nhỏ của anh thuyết minh | cache creek casino california | casino campuchia mới nhất | chơi casino trực tuyến chỉ có thua | casino máy tính | hotels with casinos | borgata hotel and casino | casino games | lịch v league 2024 | fargo casino | unibet casino online | quá khứ của win | real cash online casino |