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Trauma is a beast.
Defined as a “deeply distressing or disturbing experience” or even a physical injury, trauma can manifest itself in ways that show up most unexpectedly.
In school or even in the workplace, trauma can be insidious and appear when one least expects it. For children and young people, it can be especially hard to understand how their own trauma impacts them as the rational part of a teen’s brain isn’t fully developed and won’t be until age 25.
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing children and parents to stay home and shelter in place last year (with some still working and schooling from home) it can be difficult to escape the abuse that comes from within. And this issue has no color.
For children and young people in need of mental health services, fortunately, there is help with an increase in hiring mental health professionals around the state.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced that schools are recruiting and in the process of hiring 560 more school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors and school nurses with the help of funding from the FY 22 State School Aid Act.
“The pandemic reminded us that school-based mental and physical health professionals are not luxuries. Healthy students—physically, mentally, and social-emotionally—are better learners,” Whitmer stated in a press release. “Having skilled professionals in school buildings helps our kids get the support they need so they can thrive in the classroom and beyond.”
“Our children require academic, social-emotional, and physical supports, both in and out of schools,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “School communities across the state are appreciative of this critical new FY 22 budget investment negotiated between the governor and the state legislature. This $240 million begins the requisite school support for our children’s mental health and physical needs.”
“The health and well-being of Michigan’s students continue to be a top priority for both MASA and our members,” said Dr. Tina Kerr, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA). “Now, more than ever, our students need access to these services, and there’s no better place than in our schools to provide them. We are very pleased to see this important funding going to districts across the state so they can hire the key staff needed to support our students.”
Delivering for Students
In the FY 22 budget, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature worked together to appropriate $240 million to increase the number of school-based professionals supporting students’ mental and physical health.
To date, 210 school districts have applied for grant funding to hire 562 staff members including 60 school psychologists, 226 school social workers, 146 school counselors and 130 school nurses. Grant funds help districts hire staff and gradually transition from fully funding the position with state funds in year 1 to funding the position with local funds in year 4.
The application is still open, and all districts are eligible to apply. Districts can review frequently asked questions and submit their application by visiting Michigan.gov/MDE. Districts must hire staff by March 1, 2022, to qualify.
De’Nisha “Dinah” Beasley (who holds a Double Master’s Degree in Social Work and Theological Studies) has over 14 years of experience serving in mental health, social work and education arenas as a restorative healing specialist in inner-city communities and is the executive director for a non-profit organization focused on saving children from child sexual exploitation.
Beasley, the founder of the Center for Restorative Services and Solutions (The CRSS) where she utilizes her knowledge of trauma-informed and restorative practices to help individuals heal from trauma, restore relationships, and build healthy communities, told the Michigan Chronicle that it comes to seeing children handling trauma by acting out at school and elsewhere.
“Behavior and academics are all related to trauma,” Beasley said adding that it is important when handling trauma to think of helping young people as a community effort. “When you use a trauma-informed approach you find kids who experienced trauma [which] impacts every aspect of their life. It impacts their interpersonal relationship, their ability to sit in a classroom for an extended amount of time, how they interact with family and siblings.”
Beasley said, however, that there is hope.
“Kids can heal from trauma and recover and have success stories — all of this is possible,” Beasley said.
For more information on Beasley’s work visit https://www.thecrss.org/.
Detroit resident and mental health advocate E’yandra Otis agrees. He told the Michigan Chronicle that it’s important for children to see that they have a support system who believes them when they say that someone abused them – even if it’s from their own family.
“[We] need to take a bigger look at mental health, period,” Otis told the Michigan Chronicle. “A society cannot move forward if we have so many people have trauma not addressed, not spoken about. … You have to make victims feel safe to share their stories.”
