Welcome to Coordinated School health programs

2005 Excellence in Coordinated School Health Recognition Awards Program Winner
School Counseling, Physical and Behavioral Health Services Outstanding Leadership Awards

Union 42/CSD 10

It is clear that Union 42 has a deep commitment to providing comprehensive and quality school counseling and health services.

There is strong support from school administration. Union 42 has effectively involves the community in its health services in a meaningful way and consequently, has cultured an important relationship with the community. Families are kept involved and are part of the solution when addressing student issues.

School administration fosters innovation from staff and includes all stakeholders in decision making. Both students and staff feel they have a voice and their opinions are respected and heard. Students are involved in school issues in a meaningful way and volunteers are integrated effectively in the health services program. The student to health services staff ratios are excellence.

The school counseling and health services staff represent competence in their profession and seek creative ways to enhance services. They appear to have the ‘big picture’ and view the ‘whole child’ within the context of his/her environment.

The office space and milieu is well suited to the variety of services and is warm and inviting for students. Union 42, despite the lack of a school health coordinator, has created an effective model of coordinating all health components within the school.

Beyond the excellent staff, the district has created an innovative way of expanding mental health services to include community providers through the Behavioral Collaborate, which has provided a valuable service to students.

The superintendent, Rich Abramson, believes it is important to be preemptive in addressing emotional and physical health issues. He also believes in the importance of involving and gaining community support for the counseling and health services provided.

Exemplary school counseling and health services, including the school based health center serving both the Maranacook Community High School and Middle School, have contributed to Union 42/CSD 10 having above average student attendance and a lower than average drop-out rate.

Congratulations to Union 42/CSD 10 for their outstanding School Counseling and Physical and Behavioral Health Services program.

Joan Mohlar
Retired

Joan Mohlar served as school nurse for Maranacook Area Schools for over 17 years. She was key in shaping health services for all students in grades K-12. Early in her career, Joan did research on school-based health services and presented her ideas to the school administration. Based on her presentation, the school system moved ahead with an application to establish a school-based student health center. Joan was instrumental in facilitating the development of the health services advisory committee and planning and implementing the scope of services offered in the student health center. Joan is a consummate advocate for children and adolescents and continues, to this day, to volunteer in the student health center one morning a week and to serve on the health services advisory committee.

Cindy has been coordinator of services at the student health center for the past 10 years. She has been a key player as the student health center has evolved to include a comprehensive array of services. Cindy was integral to the success of introducing behavioral health services, which compliment the school counseling services, and are now present in all schools in the Union. Two years ago, the health center partnered with the Family Planning Association of Maine to assess the need for reproductive health services. Cindy was instrumental in the planning and implementing the activities during the year- long assessment phase which resulted in approval of a plan to implement full reproductive health services this school year. The success of the student health center is due, in part, to Cindy’s ability to work collaboratively with school staff, administration, students, parents and community members to design or shape services that meet the needs of all students.

John was guidance director at Maranacook for many years until his retirement in 2001, and students and staff alike might best describe him as a compassionate skilled counselor, a gentle consultant, a mentor, a friend, and a wise leader. He gave willingly of his time and talents to all students and staff. He was passionately committed to the school’s unique focus on each and every student. John’s mission statement stressed the value of the individual, looking at options in life, and finding resources to help in life. John was a critical part of the foundation that supported the development of these beliefs and his vision was the cornerstone of Maranacook’s school counseling program.

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