In response to the youth mental health crisis, our school-based counseling program opens doors to opportunity by empowering organizations like Association House to deliver accessible, culturally sensitive mental health support, ensuring students have the resources they need to thrive.
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a nationwide mental health crisis, especially among young people who were suddenly deprived of critical social interactions and faced unprecedented challenges in education and employment. A 2021 study by the CDC revealed that 44% of American high schoolers felt “persistently hopeless” in the past year. Even more alarmingly, 21% reported seriously considering suicide.
In response to these concerning trends, the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation launched a School Based Counseling pilot program– funding the employment of on-site mental health counselors in high schools throughout the state. Association House’s Behavioral Health team was selected to serve two neighborhood schools, and as word of our success spread, Association House soon began replicating services in additional schools.
“A lot of the students I work with would never seek out this kind of help on their own,” says Patrice Gordon, an Association House counselor based at Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy. “But when it’s coming from someone who looks like them and lives and works alongside them, finding support starts to seem okay.”
Mr. Gordon says he works to make counseling commonplace for his students, many of whom come from cultural backgrounds that discourage it. By filling the hallways of the school with positive and affirming mental health information and forming friendly bonds with students before getting into any therapy talk, he’s able to remove the pressures of traditional counseling.
“If one student knows me, they might tell their friend who I am and what I do. I have an open-door policy in the Common Room where I work. We have aromatherapy, calm sounds, it’s very relaxing. Once they know me, they know they can come by to check in if they ever feel agitated or are struggling during class,” he shares.
Recognizing the importance of a whole-school approach, Association House’s school-based counseling model supports teachers and administrators alongside students. Counselors bring a trauma-informed lens to the entire school community, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Santiago Duran, another counselor on the school-based team, serves as an advocate for students during faculty meetings. His role allows him to diffuse tensions in the classroom by offering insight into student perspectives, and teaching staff strategies to avoid potential triggers.
“When it comes to counseling with teenagers, it’s a lot of listening, a lot of validating, a lot of reflecting on decisions and their consequences," says Mr. Duran. "Sometimes I’m the first person to give a student a neutral, non-judgemental reaction to a choice they’ve made or a feeling they’ve had. I’ve had students tell me that they like talking to me because I don’t make them feel crazy.”
From box breathing to fidget toys, our school-based counseling team is normalizing self-care and removing the shame around mental health. Thanks to increased investment in mental health through Cook County Health’s Stronger Together initiative, this school-based work will continue, providing vital resources in community schools, while also creating a bridge back to Association House, for those needing more intensive support.
"It feels great to be able to be myself in this position," says Santiago. "Teenagers really appreciate genuineness, and this role lets me be genuine no matter what. We make progress when we can slowly build up trust. I'm a professional who can really help, but without the pressure or stress of having to go out of your way to ask for help. I'm there whenever they're ready." ■
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Thanks to increased investment in mental health through Cook County Health’s Stronger Together initiative, this school-based work will continue, providing vital resources in community schools, while also creating a bridge back to Association House, for those needing more intensive support.
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