DISTRICT FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH
Extensive Services Available for Students
M
ay is Mental Health Month. However, the Fox
Chapel Area School District understands that
students may have a variety of mental health
and emotional support needs throughout the
school year. To meet those diverse needs, the district has
built in multiple layers of support at each school.
According to Timothy Mahoney, the district’s director of
special education and pupil services, Fox Chapel Area has
been identified by the Allegheny County Office of Behavioral
Health as an exemplary model for supporting the mental
health needs of students. Through the process of a Multi-
Tiered System of Support (MTSS), the district has established
a comprehensive program for tiered social and emotional
supports for students.
“The district is also consistently recognized as one of the top
programs in our region by other local school districts,” Mr.
Mahoney said. “We coordinate with Allegheny County, the
Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania
Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), the
Allegheny Intermediate Unit, the University of Pittsburgh, the
Services for Teens at Risk (STAR)-Center, Family Behavioral
Resources, and The Watson Institute for continued training
and consultation for all of our students and staff.”
According to Jennifer Ely, Ed.D., the program director of the
University of Pittsburgh’s Maximizing Adolescent Potentials
(MAPS) program, “Fox Chapel Area is well ahead of the
county in regard to supporting their students with mental
health and drug and alcohol needs.”
Here are the resources available to Fox Chapel Area students:
School Psychologists Transition Coordinator
• 3 total: 2 full-time employees and 1 contracted
employee; contract with Allegheny Intermediate Unit
to address any additional needs within the district • Licensed professional counselor
• Part of district’s crisis response team • Nationally recognized as an expert in the field of
transition
School Counselors Behavioral Specialists
• FCAHS: 6 counselors • 2 within the district
• DMS: 3 counselors
• Elementary: 1 counselor per building • Work primarily with students in grades K-grade 5,
but available for grades 6-12
University of Pittsburgh MAPS School-Based Mental Health
• Provides school-based and school-linked mental health,
alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-related services • K-12 service for our families
• 4 employees total assigned across the district • Offers outpatient counseling services to families during
the school day
• Student Assistance Programs • Works with Family Behavioral Resources
• Postvention
• Psychoeducational Services
School Consultation
• Social Skills • Contracted services through the Allegheny
Intermediate Unit and The Watson Institute
Building-Based Student Assistance Programs
and Elementary Student Assistance Programs • Consultation and assistance for student and classroom
supports within our district
• Consists of principal(s), counselors, University of
Pittsburgh MAPS personnel, nurse(s), and teachers
• Identification of student needs through
identified markers
• Consistent interaction with Allegheny County
Department of Human Services to assist in
supporting students
20
• Teaches social thinking for grades 9-12
FOX CHAPEL AREA