School-Based Services
Community Based Services
Basing mental health services in schools, home, and other locations where children and families "live" improves access to mental health services. (Surgeon General's 1999 Report on Children's Mental Health.)
MHCD outreaches extensively in the community to provide mental health interventions to youth and families through long-standing partnerships with a range of organizations including:
- Cross Community Center
- Emerson Street School
- Gilliam Youth Services Center
- Lowry Family Center
- Urban Peak
School-Based Health Center Services
Through partnerships with Denver Public Schools, Denver Health, and Arapahoe House, MHCD has mental health therapists based at the following Denver Schools:
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Therapists are available to provide focused, short-term treatment to students. MHCD mental health therapists also work with school staff, parents, guardians and other organizations involved in coordinating intervention and treatment services to students with emotional, behavioral or substance abuse issues.
When Does a Young Person Need Services?
When parents and teachers notice these behaviors that interfere with learning, they can speak to their school social worker or principal to access services:
- Youth who are unable to follow directions, stay on task or focus on schoolwork
- Youth who are sad, withdrawn or crying
- Youth who bully or are being bullied
- Isolated youth
- Angry or aggressive youth
- Youth who are hurting themselves or others
- Youth who talk about killing themselves
- Anxious youth
- Youth who are hyper-active or impulsive
- Youth who are unable to remain in their seats
- Youth who have difficulty making or keeping friends
- Youth who have difficulty with authority
- Youth who have trouble concentrating
- Youth who throw things
How to Make a Referral
Parents must be notified by the appropriate school personnel prior to clinicians seeing a youth under 15 years old. Please contact the school for information on the referral process.