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Counseling

What does a school social worker do?

School social workers help students when they have big emotions at school as we want to see our students feel loved, happy, and safe!

Some changes in the home or at school can be difficult and can cause some undesired emotions and behaviors which makes it difficult to focus on school work or studies. That is why it is so important for you and your family to know that we want to help support you in any way that we can!

If at any point throughout the year, you or your family needs assistance, services, resources, or referrals for outside support, please tell your teacher or feel free to contact Ms. Dolese. 

Mental Health Referral Form

We welcome Christina Dolese, our Licensed Clinical Social Worker, to our Wildcat Family as our new Mental Health Provider on campus!

MHP Services

  • Assisting with mental health and behavioral concerns upon referral 

  • Crisis intervention 

  • Providing resources and referrals to appropriate community agencies upon request 

  • Providing positive behavioral, academic, and classroom support 

  • Consulting with teachers, parents, and administrators 

  • Providing individual and group counseling sessions

If you are interested in your child having access to these counseling services, please complete the application below or obtain a physical copy at the Front Office. 

MHP Consent Form

MHP Consent Form in Plain Text

This plain text version is for information purposes only. The official form must be completed, signed, and turned into the STJH Front Office to be valid. 

In an effort to strengthen your child's overall school experience, your child is eligible to receive school based counseling services when needed or as indicate don the individualized education program (IEP). School based counseling services are short-term aimed at improving the educational experience for your child within the school setting and does not replace any additional private community mental health services that may be appropriate for your child. 

In some emergency situations, a signed permission form would not be required in order for us to provide assistance.
All information will be kept confidential, with exceptions as required by law such as abuse/neglect, intent to harm self or others, and court orders directing disclosure of information. Information may be shared as necessary to provide consolation to teachers, administrators, and other school personnel to better assist your child. If you would like information shared with a third party outside of the school system, such as a private community mental health agency, you will need to sign an additional release of information form. 

PLEASE CHECK THE APPROPRIATE STATEMENT
___ I give permission for my child to receive school based counseling services and I am aware that I may withdraw my consent at any time by signing and dating a written note requesting termination of counseling services. 
___ I decline permission for my child to receive school based counseling services at this time and understand that I may request this service at a later date. By signing the form, you are acknowledging that you agree to the above terms and are the parent/guardian required to authorize school based counseling services. Unless otherwise revoked, this authorization will expire on the date and/or event/condition indicated on the form. If there is no expiration indicated, the authorization will expire at the end of the school year requested. 

Mandated Reporters

The DCFS Online Reporter Portal provides mandated reporters the ability to report nonemergent reports of suspected child abuse and/or neglect that do not require immediate assistance. All other reports shall be reported to the DCFS Child Abuse Hotline at 855-4LA-KIDS (855-452-5437). The online report portal can be found at dcfs.la.gov and is available 24 hours a day/365 days a year.

Mandated reporters are any of the following individuals performing their occupational duties:

  • “Health practitioner” is any individual who provides health care services, including a physician, surgeon, physical therapist, dentist, resident, intern, hospital staff member, podiatrist, chiropractor, licensed nurse, nursing aide, dental hygienist, any emergency medical technician, paramedic, optometrist, medical examiner, or coroner who diagnoses, examines, or treats a child or his family.
  • “Mental health/social service practitioner” is any individual  who provides mental health care or social services diagnosis, assessment, counseling, or treatment, including a psychiatrist, psychologist, marriage or family counselor, social worker, member of clergy, aide, or other individual who provides counseling services to a child or his family.
  • “Member of the clergy” is any priest, rabbi, duly ordained clerical deacon or minister, Christian Science practitioner, or other similarly situated functionary of a religious organization unless not required to report a confidential communication as defined in the Code of Evidence Article 511.
  • “Teaching or child care provider” is any person who provides or assists in the teaching, training and supervision of a child, including any public or private school teacher, teacher's aide, instructional aide, school principal, school staff member, school resource officer, bus driver, coach, professor, technical or vocational instructor, technical or vocational school staff member, college or university administrator, college or university staff member, social worker, probation officer, foster home parent, group home or other child care institution staff member, personnel of a residential home facilities, a licensed or unlicensed daycare provider, or any individual who provides such services to a child in a voluntary or professional capacity.
  • Police officers or law enforcement officials.
  • “Commercial film and photographic print processor” is any person who develops exposed photographic film into negatives, slides, or prints, or who makes prints from negatives or slides for compensation.
  • "Mediators" appointed pursuant to Children's Code, Chapter 6 of Title IV.
  • "Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)" is any CASA volunteer under the supervision of a CASA program appointed pursuant to Chapter 4 of Title IV.
  • "Organizational or Youth Activity Provider" is any person who provides organized activities for children, including administrators, employees, or volunteers of any day camp, summer camp, youth center, or youth recreation programs or any other organization that provides organized activities for children.
  • "Coach" is any school coach including but not limited to public technical or vocational school, community college, college or university coaches and coaches of intramural or interscholastic athletics.

The Louisiana Children’s Code defines child abuse and neglect by a parent or caretaker as follows. Abuse means any one of the following acts which seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health and safety of the child:

  • The infliction, attempted infliction, or, as a result of inadequate supervision, the allowance of the infliction or attempted infliction of physical or mental injury upon the child by a parent or any other person.
  • The exploitation or overwork of a child by a parent or any other person, including but not limited to commercial sexual exploitation of the child.
  • The involvement of the child in any sexual act with a parent or any other person, or the aiding or toleration by the parent, caretaker, or any other person of the child’s involvement in any of the following: - Any sexual act with any other person. - Pornographic displays. - Any sexual activity constituting a crime under the laws of this state. - A coerced abortion conducted upon a child. - Female genital mutilation as defined by R.S. 14:43.4.
  • Neglect means the refusal or unreasonable failure of a parent or caretaker to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, care, treatment, or counseling for any injury, illness, or condition of the child, as a result of which the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health and safety is substantially threatened or impaired. Neglect includes prenatal neglect.
    • Consistent with Article 606(B), the inability of a parent or caretaker to provide for a child due to inadequate financial resources shall not, for that reason alone, be considered neglect. Whenever, in lieu of medical care, a child is being provided treatment in accordance with the tenets of a well-recognized religious method of healing which has a reasonable, proven record of success, the child shall not, for that reason alone, be considered to be neglected or maltreated. However, nothing herein shall prohibit the court from ordering medical services for the child when there is a substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare.
    • Prenatal neglect means exposure to chronic or severe use of alcohol or the unlawful use of any controlled dangerous substance, or in a manner not lawfully prescribed, which results in symptoms of withdrawal in the newborn or the presence of a controlled substance or a metabolic thereof in his body, blood, urine, or meconium that is not the result of medical treatment, or observable and harmful effects in his physical appearance or functioning.
    • Caretaker means any person legally obligated to provide or secure adequate care for a child, including a parent, tutor, guardian, legal custodian, foster home parent, an employee of a public or private day care center, an operator or employee of a registered family child day care home, or other person providing a residence for the child.
    • Child means any person under 18 years of age who, prior to juvenile proceedings, has not been judicially emancipated under Civil Code Article 366 or emancipated by marriage under Civil Code Article 367.

The Department of Children and Family Services hotline number: 1-855-4LA-KIDS
Mandated Reporters web portal: https://mr.dcfs.la.gov/c/MR_PortalApp.app