Long-time ACHF donors establish fund to support mental health needs of students
The effects of the pandemic and the Almeda Fire are still impacting the children of our community. A new field of interest fund established by Katharine and Ron Lang will support the mental health of students in the Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix communities.
Katharine and Ron understand that many families have mental health needs. They believe that starting early by providing more mental health services to children will lead to improved outcomes for the kids and their families.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, half of all mental health conditions begin at a young age. Anxiety, depression, and behavior problems are common diagnoses. A child with undiagnosed or untreated mental health needs is less likely to succeed in school. Fortunately, early identification and treatment is effective and has a proven track record for better health outcomes.
The Lang Family Children’s Mental Health Fund was established at the Ashland Community Health Foundation (ACHF) with a $300,000 gift. The foundation will administer the fund by investing it in three distinct mental health and wellness programs for students in the Ashland and Phoenix-Talent School Districts over the next three academic years.
At the Ashland School District, the fund will grow their intern program and build a pipeline for future behavioral health providers in schools. The interns are graduate students enrolled in Southern Oregon University’s (SOU) Clinical Mental Health Counseling program or similar online graduate programs. The interns work with students individually and in small groups supervised by a licensed behavioral health therapist.
Also, the fund will allow the district to build a Peer Leader Program over the next few years. This program will connect members of Southern Oregon University affinity groups with their counterparts at Ashland Middle School and High School. Affinity groups support the mental health of students by creating an inclusive experience for students with shared life experiences. When in crisis, youth are more comfortable going to a peer for help. Affinity group participants will be trained in Sources of Strength, a youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention program, and peer leaders will serve as a trusted resource for middle and high school students seeking support.
Diane Berry, School Counselor/Child Development Specialist, shared they are deeply grateful for the Lang Family Fund. “As a school district, like many across the nation, we are experiencing a dramatic increase in our students’ mental health challenges.”
At the Phoenix-Talent School District (PTSD), funds will benefit their Latino Family Outreach program to support Latino and migrant families within the district. Latinx students comprise close to half of the district’s population, and a disproportionate number were displaced during the Almeda Fire. There are still families in the district without permanent homes that continue to struggle.
The program coordinator, a Qualified Mental Health Associate, serves as a resource to families by providing culturally responsive care. They support students and families through comprehensive health and education navigation services to ensure that their mental and physical health needs are met.
Kelly Soter, Director of Equity and Community Care at PTSD, shared, “mental health services, strengthened by the connections with trusted community members, are a powerful force in the Latinx community, fostering healing and resilience. Families are empowered to advocate for their children and the needs of their families. Healthy, healing families are the foundation of our community. ”
Our foundation is grateful to Katharine and Ron for their strategic investment in the mental health needs of children in our community through ACHF, and we look forward to partnering with them on this important initiative.
For more information about the Lang Family Children’s Mental Health Fund, contact Stephanie Roland at 541-482-0367 ext. 2.
