Mental Health Professionals
The Lincoln Center (TLC) serves students in various school districts throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area by placing mental health professionals in public school districts. These professionals, including mental health counselors, behavior specialists, crisis intervention counselors, and school psychologists, provide in-school services to students facing anxiety, depression, substance abuse issues, and/or the effects of past or current trauma. TLC staff adopt a diverse range of duties and adapt their responsibilities to meet the needs of the school district. Counseling sessions can be held individually or in groups and aim to provide a supportive environment for students to improve their socioemotional wellbeing and cope with a wide range of issues such as such as family conflict, loss, stress, relationship issues, and bullying. TLC staff can conduct family counseling in relation to students’ mental health challenges or familial situations and trauma-informed and crisis counseling to at-risk students, which encompasses both counseling related to traumatic incidents and de-escalating agitated students. Staff also work with special education students to fulfill the counseling requirements on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
In addition to providing direct support to students and families in need, TLC staff coordinate and manage delivery of individual service needs with school administrators, guidance personnel, teachers, and community agencies. Staff act as a resource for school administrators and are a key member of the district’s Student Assistance Programs (SAP) teams by providing student screening and liaison services. They also develop and implement prevention programs related to alcohol and drug abuse and provide students and families with seamless transition from inpatient hospitalization, partial hospitalization, or residential settings as they return to a school setting. Because of their vast knowledge on mental health, they help districts develop mental health curricula and crisis response plans.
Community involvement is a priority of our organization and for our staff, who coordinate activities with parents and community groups to plan and implement programs designed to reduce substance abuse. Providing forums for parent and community participation in terms of alcohol and other drug education creates a link between community agencies, families, and students needing referrals to out-of-school programs, streamlining and easing the process of accessing resources.