By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — A program to help local students with severe mental health disorders is saving twice what it cost, according to early reports.

It’s the human capital, however, that school officials care about, and that too appears to be paying off, after introduction of the Effective School Solutions program.

Four Westport students previously serviced outside the local school district, at an estimated cost of $80,000 a clip, are now being educated at Staples High School.

Three other students whom educators agree likely would have been placed out of district this year, have stayed put, attending school regularly and receiving the therapeutic services they need in house.

That’s an estimated $560,000 saved in out-of-district expenses, double the $280,000 fee the district paid this year to bring in Effective School Solutions.

“Kids are benefiting,” Michael Rizzo, assistant superintendent of pupil personnel services, told the Board of Education this week.

Staples Principal Stafford Thomas Jr. agreed, calling ESS a resource that is helping all students.

“We are so pleased,” Thomas told the board.

A 13-year-old program founded in New Jersey, ESS is now said to be in 90 school districts across nine states. 

Last summer, Bridgeport’s public schools, using $4.5 million in federal COVID relief dollars, hired the mental health provider to offer services in several schools for a three-year period.

In Westport, the deal is year-by-year and only at the high school, although Rizzo said the intention is to stick with the program in the new fiscal year.

ESS doesn’t replace district social workers and counselors, but provides intensive therapeutic support for students who otherwise could not function in a traditional high school setting.

Jared Delancy, now a senior director of district partnerships for ESS, said it is the type of program he could have used when he was a teacher in the South Bronx with no idea how to be supportive of some students who had severe emotional and behavioral challenges.

The why

An estimated one in five students struggle with a mental health disorder, officials say.

COVID has only made anxiety and depression among children worse — first with isolation caused by lockdown and quarantines, then the difficulty getting back into a routine and worries about catching up academically.

For 11- to 21-year-olds, rates of suicidal thoughts have increased about 50 percent vs. pre-pandemic, according to the American Association of Pediatrics.

Stats          

 Since ESS was introduced into Westport’s school district this fall, 15 students have formally enrolled in the program. Of those, 86 percent are receiving services weekly, 75 percent have showed increased grades and 92 percent have fewer discipline issues. Some students not attending school at all prior to the program are now said to be attending every day.

Parents like the program, according to surveys. They rate the program very highly for showing them respect and access to staff. Most agree the program is helping them cope with their child.

One, according to comments provided by ESS, called the program a lifesaver.

“ESS has made all the difference in keeping my child home and not sending to a therapeutic boarding school,” one parent is quoted as saying. The parent said their once angry, unhappy child actually loves going to school now.

The how

There is a multi-tiered system of support provided for students. 

Tier 3 is intensive in school clinical support with wraparound services, which ESS supports. There are check-ins, group therapy, family sessions and support provided throughout the school day, according to Cheryl Planten, anexecutive clinical director of the program.

Because the clinician is in the building full time, the goal is to regulate and get students to class as soon as they can.

Tier 2 is less intensive. Tier 1 involves awareness and prevention. Those are handled by Staples staff.

Allison Whitman, a regional director for ESS, said the program is becoming a part of the fabric of the Staples community.

Thomas agreed.

After the presentation, board member Neil Phillips asked how students are introduced to the service.

So far, it is through staff referrals.

Board member Dorie Hordon asked what training and support Staples teachers receive.

Planten said there is an orientation to start and individual consultations.

Board Vice Chairwoman Liz Heyer called the program amazing and wondered if district officials might use the program more broadly.

Rizzo said the district is looking at whether the program might be appropriate at the middle school level.

 “I think it is something we have to consider,” Rizzo said. “We are seeing students younger and younger with more significant needs.”

Board member Christina Torres asked how aware the rest of the student body is of the program.

Not very aware she was told since the program is confidential.

Rizzo said it was a hard sell last year to get students into the program. He expects it to be easier next year.

Becky Martin, co-chair of the district’s Special Ed PTA, called the services ESS provides amazing.

“This is a great start,” she said. “Onward.”