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A Priority In Education

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health continue to highlight the importance of prioritizing the development of mental health strategies and comprehensive plans in schools.
Initiate Consultants work with school leadership and staff teams to better understand the needs of the students. School-wide Challenges may range from managing bullying, cliques, vaping, drug use, or increased discipline occurrences. High parent needs can also be a burden as well as trying to implement a school-wide social-emotional learning program.

Student Specific Needs or Tier 2 Needs are evident in a wide array. Tier 2 needs may be identified as anxiety or depression symptoms in students, higher rates of ADHD symptoms observed, school avoidance, or expulsion. More intensely, there may be increased suicidality, self-harm, and crisis occurrences within your school. Each of these mental health concerns benefits from attention to ensure the students receive the support they need, as well as maintaining an effective school system.
During consultations, we spend time discussing the challenges that you are currently facing, brainstorming how to navigate them, and providing crucial tools for implementation and a community-based approach for long-term success.

Working with Initiate fosters the ability for schools to be responsive and preventative in their approach. Topics such as anti-bullying, promoting diversity and belonging, and providing supportive spaces for all students are a few of the many areas that are often discussed.

Mental Health for Teachers & Staff

Staff Mental Health

At its core, a mentally healthy school and classroom becomes a learning environment where every student feels a sense of belonging. Keeping in mind the mental health of staff is a key part of this outcome for each student. Initiate addresses staff burnout, discontent, and overwhelm in an intentional manner to move toward whole-school improvements. Also supported is the development of a work environment that promotes positive work-life balance and wellness.

Awareness of Student Mental Health & Providing Support

Alongside each staff member’s individual mental health, teachers will need to address elements of their student’s mental health and wellness in the classroom. Bringing teachers and staff on board to understand and learn about mental health indicators is a key aspect of teachers feeling supported and equipped day to day. Highlighting in-class support options and Social Emotional Learning programs are also valuable aspects of a healthy classroom environment. Initiate Consultants are committed to providing evidence-based support to school staff in an effort to develop positive work environments, and emotional resilience to further reduce the stigma of mental health while developing a positive school climate.

Forward Focused

While the crisis situation may be calmed effectively time and time again, it’s important to not lose sight of what originally caused the situation to happen.  Understanding the ‘why’ behind the behavioural response creates a strong stride toward setting preventative strategies and positive goals in program development and program changes.  

Initiate Consultants keep this in mind when supporting schools as programs are launched, as well as assist with hiring mental health staff and strengthening teams.   

Mentorship and support for the School Counsellor is also available for program rollout, program development, and monthly check-ins.  This service allows for effective and efficient program outcomes and regular problem-solving support.     

Consultant

About Marge Kloet

Marge Kloet has been working with and supporting children and youth for over 25 years in a wide range of service settings.  From supporting specialized programming for women and children in shelters to crisis and therapeutic support for children and youth who are in hospital mental health programs, to doctor office settings, Marge’s skills demonstrate a strong relational approach using evidence-based therapies. 

More recently, Marge has accumulated over 8 years of experience developing mental health programs within independently funded Christian Schools in southern Ontario. Marge has contributed to research and has spent time analyzing the development of mental health programs while highlighting key contributors to this field.  She is presently the School Counsellor at Cairn Christian School overseeing and implementing the Student Wellness Program at the Smithville and Stoney Creek Campuses and is an active member in her faith community. 

Marge is also currently an associate therapist at Seachange Psychotherapy in Hamilton, where she provides therapy for children, youth, parents/caregivers, and young adults. 

Marge promotes and is trained in evidence-based practices such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapies.  She has her master’s degree in Child and Youth Care and is guided by and maintains memberships with the regulatory body Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), the Ontario Association for Social Workers and the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care.

Research Based Approach

Initiate School Wellness uses evidenced-based frameworks that promote the health and wellness of students. Falling in line with School Mental Health Ontario, the consultants are keenly aware of implementing the 3 Tiered Model and the foundational elements within the CASEL Wheel.  These incorporate the 5 social-emotional competencies of every student, along with attending to the spaces in which each student lives and grows: home, school, and community as noted in the diagrams below. 

There are many areas of a mental health strategic plan that need attention, leaning on research and resources ensures effective proactive and responsive interventions. Vital parts of the planning process are the unique needs of each student, family and faith community, along with the local context, and the school’s resources.

School Mental Health Ontario, CASEL, Panorama Education, ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International), Edvance Christian School Association, and Well-Being BC are resources and connections that are the foundational blocks within the consultative services.

FAQs

  • Services typically begin in a consultation format where clients can ask questions, access resources and create a plan to improve the overall mental health of the school. The consultation rate is $130 per hour.

  • Sessions can be scheduled with the consultant after the ‘Discovery Call’ call and via email. Together we will determine an agreed-upon time to meet. Hours vary and do take into consideration the rhythm of school schedules.

  • If the consultant is in close proximity to you, meeting in person can be arranged. Extra fees may apply depending on the meeting location. Virtual sessions are always available.

  • Providing in-service learning sessions and individual student support is valuable! Workshops and in-service learning are available upon request. As well, assistance will be provided to find resources and people in your community or online who can provide educational and therapeutic support. Together we’ll find the right resources to create a holistic plan for your school.