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Chad Bongiovanni, director of student support services for Jamestown Public Schools, is pictured at Tuesday’s school board meeting. PJ photo by Eric Tichy

Each year in the United States, one in six children between the ages of 6 and 17 experiences a mental health problem.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about half of all students with mental health problems received treatment in the past year.

What we do know is that in high-needs communities like Jamestown, that information can be even worse. Chad Bongiovanni, director of student support services for Jamestown Public Schools, said during a presentation before the school board Tuesday.

“So we have a very high demand for students in mental health crisis.” He continued: “And we need some additional support to serve those students.”

Bongiovanni said all students at Jamestown should have access to social-emotional education, counselors, psychologists and other support services.

However, he said some students need extra support. “We want the support to be very targeted and specific to their individual needs.” Bongiovanni said. In-home services for those students may include individual counseling and small group counseling, he said.

There is also a third stage where intervention is needed.

“Students who need the strongest service.” Bongiovanni said. “Strong counseling. Strong mental health services. We can serve these students at school with interventions like behavioral intervention plans, but we know we need more support from our community agencies.”

Officials representing longtime community partners spoke briefly to school board members. They include Thomas Fadal of the Chauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, Julie Chipman of Chauqua County Family Services and Kate Curtis of the Resource Center.

Fadale said the county’s Department of Mental Hygiene works at Bush Elementary School and Washington Middle School and serves about 90 students a year.

“What they do is behavioral health counseling and they’re completely connected to the satellite clinic at Chauqua County Mental Health, which is located at City Hall.” he said.

Clinics in the schools a Complete social work services for those students. If they have additional needs, they are already connected to the Chautauqua County Mental Health Clinic.

Chipman Family Services of the Chautauqua Region has been a partner with Jamestown Public Schools for many years. She also provides counseling services – from care coordination, crisis support and intervention, and family intervention and support – to students at the suggestion of teachers, guidance counselors, principals or parents.

Services are available at the high school as well as Purcell, Fletcher, Ring and Love schools. Family Services serves 240 to 270 students each year.

Curtis said the resource center provides support services at the high school. She said that by opening a satellite office at the District Tech Academy, the organization has received support to provide outpatient and social work services.

Bongiovanni’s goals moving forward include increasing awareness of support services available to students. Systematize the student referral process; improving communication with student support groups; strengthening access to wrap-up and crisis services; and establishing regular multi-agency team meetings.