Spotlight at Monterey County Safe and Healthy Schools and Communities Coalition
The Alisal Union School District had two recent opportunities to showcase its Wellness Programs and how the Pupil Personnel Services Department is coordinating behavioral health supports to improve attendance and remove barriers to learning.
The first opportunity took place during the leadership breakfast of the Monterey County Safe and Healthy Schools and Communities Coalition. The breakfast took place on April 24 at the National Steinbeck Center. Alisal’s program, Shifting from Reactive Discipline to Proactive Wellness: Transforming School Safety through Community and Mental Health Infrastructure, was one of the two school-based programs highlighted during the event.
Superintendent Mónica Anzo and Pupil Personnel Services Director Diana García spoke about the District’s whole child approach for ensuring the District’s wrap-around services for students and families foster a sense of safety and belonging. The whole-child approach is embodied in several of the initiatives led by the Department: Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports; Multi-Tiered System of Supports to address academic, behavioral, & socio-emotional needs; District-wide bullying prevention; trainings for staff in restorative practices, circle keepers, transformational learning; all to foster a culture of healing.
The Pupil Personnel Services Department has also expanded school-based mental health services for students. In addition to having 12 school site counselors, the District has grown from two to six social workers, to 12 wellness coaches when previously there were none, and to extensive counseling through external partners. This expansion has reduced service gaps, improved response times, and strengthened the district’s capacity to address mental health, attendance, behavioral, and overall wellness needs. As a result, schools are better equipped to support students proactively, staff feel more confident and supported, and families experience greater access to resources and guidance.
This matters because the District has changed its approach to student discipline. In the past, while a child may have been punished for being disruptive or unattentive in the classroom, now a team analyzes the causes and provides services to ensure the child can learn.
Mrs. García also described the District’s Coordination of Services Team (COST) and how referrals serve to better address students' needs. The team received 1,234 referrals as of April 24 (about 100 per school site) for the school year, with concerns that range from intense worries that get in the way of daily activities to suicidal ideation. Making sure students receive services early on ensures not just their own safety, but that of everyone around them.
The Monterey County Safe and Healthy Schools and Communities Coalition gathers all school districts in Monterey County along with law enforcement agencies and other agencies to share best practices that contribute to student safety and success. The coalition meets monthly and celebrates its successes at the annual breakfast leadership gathering.
California State Senator John Laird visits Alisal USD.
The second opportunity the District had to showcase its Wellness Programs was during a visit by California State Senator John Laird. Senator Laird visited Creekside Elementary on Friday, May 8, where he had an opportunity to learn about the school’s wellness plan and focus on science instruction.
While Sen. Laird could only visit one site, the purpose of the visit was to highlight the District’s coordinated approach to student wellness and safety, and the positive impact of our systems and support was clearly evident throughout the day, Mrs. Diana García said.
The team that welcomed Sen. Laird included Superintendent Mónica Anzo, Deputy Superintendent Clara Fernández, Trustee Leticia García, Superintendent of Monterey County Schools Deneen Guss, and Assistant Superintendent Ralph Porras. The Creekside team, which includes Principal Will Franzell, Assistant Principal Christina Mendoza and Community Schools Coordinator Flora Gomez described the wellness process to Sen. Laird and the guests.
The Creekside team also described the school’s approach to learning through science-based instruction, and it included a visit with students, which made the event memorable and special.
Our guests, MCOE, Healthy Campus, Board Trustees, Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent commended the leadership and wellness team at Creekside for their outstanding work and collaboration. The visitors expressed appreciation for the Coordination of Services Team (COST) process, including triage services with county resources, implementation of evidence-based practices, and the overview of the CYBHI fee schedule and billing process.
Alisal Union School District was recognized for the exceptional work being done to advance comprehensive student wellness systems. The mission of the Alisal Union School District Pupil Personnel Services Department (PPS) is to provide trauma-informed, culturally competent, and equitable services that educate, challenge, and inspire students of all ages, talents, and abilities. Preparing every student with the social-emotional, academic, college, and career skills they need to adapt and succeed in an ever-changing world is the department’s number one priority.
The visit by Senator Laird and the presentation at the Leadership Breakfast are clear examples of how our District is leading the way when it comes to addressing student behavior in a compassionate and caring way. It takes a lot of effort to implement a “whole child” approach, but it can be done, and our Pupil Personnel Services is demonstrating how.