JOPLIN, Mo. —
The Joplin School District is teaming up with area mental health agencies to make extra counseling available for students as a result of the May 22 tornado.
Five additional mental health professionals and five case managers who are trauma specialists will help the district work with families and students who are struggling emotionally.
“We can build buildings, but the emotional damage that this storm has caused is of a very significant concern and something we’re going to be watching closely for months, if not years,” Superintendent C.J. Huff said.
Discussion about the emotional impact on children and the need for counseling began the day after the tornado, Huff said.
In early July, Gov. Jay Nixon announced plans for the Joplin Child Trauma Treatment Center, using $2 million in state money. The center will provide mental health services to children and families affected by the tornado. Several local groups joined in the effort, including the school district; Ozark Center, which is the behavioral health division of Freeman Health System; the Missouri Department of Mental Health; the Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri; the Missouri Institute of Mental Health; and St. John’s Regional Medical Center.
Christen Stark, spokeswoman for Freeman Health System, said Ozark Center’s crisis hot line has seen a 12 percent increase in calls from children and teenagers since the tornado.
Janet Earl, who is coordinating mental health support for Joplin students, said about 50 of the 1,500 students enrolled in summer school showed some trauma symptoms, and two or three of those needed extensive support.
“A lot of these kids need someone who needs to understand, listen and help them talk through what they feel and experience, and help with a structure that is supportive and lets them move on,” Earl said. “About 90 percent are going to move on successfully.”
For the other 10 percent, Earl said, it is important that someone identify the children, link them to services and then make sure those services are available.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Dawnielle Robinson, clinical director for the Joplin Child Trauma Treatment Center, said the 10 mental health professionals going into the schools are trained in cognitive behavior therapy and other mental health techniques.
“The professionals will work with school personnel and in teams to determine which children have the highest level of need, more or less creating a team approach,” Robinson said.
The groups will try to reach as many children as possible initially and then will narrow the counseling to one-on-one as necessary. Teachers and school counselors will make referrals to Ozark Center professionals, Robinson said.
The support groups also will participate in as many back-to-school activities as possible so students grow comfortable around them. Some students may need to have play group support and individual support, depending on their age and needs, Earl said.
Trauma signs
There are several symptoms that parents, families, teachers and those who work with children can look for, Robinson said. They include:
• Inability to fall asleep or unusual sleeping patterns.
• Frequent nightmares.
• Dramatic changes in eating habits and personality.
• Statements about self-harm.
• Emotional and scholastic regression, and the inability to think or plan for the future.
“With children, one of the biggest things we’re going to experience is distractibility and hyper-vigilance,” Robinson said. “Systemwide, that’s going to affect the schools the most.”
Earl said some children also may be extra clingy or avoid doing things they liked to do in the past, such as athletics or other activities. She said parents must pay attention to what children are saying, writing and drawing, and in particular any discussion of suicide.
Within two to three weeks after school starts, the newness of the routine may start to wear off, and it’s possible that students will start to show some significant behavioral changes then, Earl said. She said changes also may occur around holidays.
Local News
Joplin schools ready to help students cope with tornado trauma
- Local News
-
-
City Manager: CID owes Neosho $158,257
The Big Spring Plaza Community Improvement District owes Neosho $158,257, City Manager Troy Royer told the Neosho City Council on Tuesday.
-
Proposal would reduce 20th Street to two lanes
A design proposal that would convert much of 20th Street into two lanes instead of four from Main Street to Campbell Parkway to make room for streetscape and green features did not draw much public support on Tuesday.
-
Local runners show support for Boston in cross-country relay
After completing the Boston Marathon on April 15, Ashleigh Beyersdorfer made her way through the throngs of runners to retrieve the bag she had checked in and was on her way to meet up with her family when she heard the explosions.
-
MSSU board to complete terms of president’s departure
The Board of Governors of Missouri Southern State University will meet Wednesday to complete the terms of the agreement that terminated President Bruce Speck’s contract, board Chairwoman Sherry Buchanan said.
-
State’s key witness testifies in murder trial
The fate of Dustin Boggs may ultimately depend on the credibility of Arturo Council. If jurors believe Council, then Boggs, 25, could be convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 stabbing and shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Danyel Borden, 21, at his trial this week in Ottawa County District Court.
-
Swimmers attempt to set world record
Even before the instructor had finished giving his direction to the class of young swimmers, 4-year-old Alexa DeBerry had dunked herself underwater and had come up giggling.
-
Jasper County to start enforcing newly adopted nuisance ordinance
Jasper County has received 15 complaints based on a new nuisance ordinance adopted earlier this spring, members of the County Commission said Tuesday. John Bartosh, presiding commissioner, said he and the other commissioners reviewed the complaints during a meeting last week with workers at the Jasper County Health Department.
-
Neosho School Board votes to boost custodians’ salaries
Action taken Monday night by the Neosho Board of Education on salaries was designed partly to retain custodians. The measure approved by the board gives custodians, with a starting salary of $8.77 an hour, a 10 percent raise.
-
Mike Pound: Carthage holding parties for a good cause
When my wife told me that we were going to host a party, I had only one question: Why? My wife might be the party-hosting sort of person, but I am not. She said this party was for a good cause. She also told me that our friends Lana and Bill, Lee Ann and Rob, and Amy and Jimmy were going to help host it.
-
Missouri moves to lift ban on foreign farm owners
Weeks before a Chinese conglomerate agreed to buy Smithfield Foods Inc. in the largest such takeover of a U.S. business, Missouri lawmakers quietly approved legislation removing a ban on foreign ownership of agricultural land.
- More Local News Headlines
-
City Manager: CID owes Neosho $158,257
