Tanner Health System
- Project Title: Willowbrooke, Tanner Health System
- Grant Period: 2015-2018
- Program Representative Interviewed: Debra Price, MA, LPC, CPCS Program Manager Community Services
- Location: Carroll County, Heard County, Haralson County; Georgia
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Program Overview: Willowbrooke is a school-based counseling program focused on providing
mental health services to youth. The program uses evidence-based practices including trauma-informed care
and youth Mental Health First Aid. To implement the program, Willowbrooke employs clinical and clerical
staff, and partners with five school districts, including Caroll County Schools, Carrollton City Schools,
Haralson County School District, and Heard County School system. The program also partners with the local
Department of Justice, the local Division of Family and Children Services, judges, and other youth programs.
Overall, this program has minimized crisis by intervening earlier on behalf of student mental health needs. This program has also made resources available that enable staff to refer students to higher levels of care when needed. This program has led to positive policy changes within schools and a better understanding of student mental health needs among staff and school officials. Since program implementation, the school climate survey shows a decrease in suicidal ideation among students, a decrease in school absences, and an increase in academic performance.
Through community and regional meetings, this program has been able to successfully disseminate program results and information to other school districts who are considering a similar model.