Contact
Doug Moore
Director of Student Services
dmoore@clevelandschools.org
(423) 472-9571
Kellye Bender
Supervisor of Elementary Education
kbender@clevelandschools.org
(423) 472-9571
Laura Vacheresse
Crisis Intervention Counselor
lvacheresse@clevelandschools.org
(423) 339-0902
Dr. Alicia Kahrs
Well-Being Specialist
akahrs@clevelandschools.org
Mental Health Resources
Cleveland City Schools offers comprehensive mental health resources to support its students. School counselors are available to provide immediate, on-site assistance, addressing a range of student needs from academic stress to personal issues. Beyond the school setting, Cleveland City Schools collaborates with local community health organizations, ensuring students have access to specialized mental health services and support systems. Additionally, the district partners with Care Solace, a service that connects families with mental health care providers in their community, ensuring continuous and accessible mental health care for all students. This multi-faceted approach ensures that students have the support they need both within the school environment and beyond.
Centerstone School-Based Therapy for CCS Students
Cleveland City Schools is excited to share our partnership with Centerstone of Tennessee to provide school-based therapy services to all Cleveland City Schools students. We believe access to school-based therapy services is an incredible benefit to families and school-aged children and reduces common barriers to consistent mental and behavioral health treatment such as lack of transportation, inflexible work schedules, and disruptions to a child’s school day. Centerstone is currently accepting referrals at all Cleveland City Schools. For more information about these services or to request a referral for services for your student, please contact your student’s school counselor (see below).
School Counselor Directory
Together Toward Wellness
Cleveland City Schools distributes monthly "Together Towards Wellness" newsletters to families and guardians, providing comprehensive materials and information on enhancing social and emotional support for students.
Care Solace
Cleveland City Schools has partnered with Care Solace, a service that connects families with mental health care providers in their community, ensuring continuous and accessible mental health care for all students.
Phone: 888-515-0595
Web: caresolace.com/cleveland
24-7 Multilingual Support
A multilingual team is available 24/7/365 to help you understand options, call providers on your behalf, and schedule an appointment.Care Regardless of Insurance
Connect to care with any coverage including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance.Easy Access to Care
Use Care Match, the self-serve website, to find a provider on your own.
Please note: Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255.
Support for Parents and Caregivers
Cleveland City Schools has partnered with the Cook Center for Human Connection and their Mental Health Resource Center, ParentGuidance.org.
ParentGuidance.org is a website that was developed to help parents, guardians, and caregivers with parenting advice from the top clinicians and experts who offer guidance around issues related to the most common challenges parents face today: anxiety, social media use, school avoidance, bullying, and more.
It offers on-demand, anonymous courses and resources from experts who can help parents address common concerns, improve family relationships, and support your overall child's emotional well-being. The content is created by licensed therapists and experienced teachers! ParentGuidance.org wants to give parents and caregivers the tools they need to create a loving and supportive home for their children. Find the tools that you need to support your family, in English or Spanish, completely free.
Mental Health Webinar Series
We are also excited to offer a new Mental Health Series tailored to the needs of parents in our district. These virtual events are designed to provide valuable support and insights, all at no cost to you. Each session is led by experienced facilitators, featuring insights from licensed therapists and live interactions from parents. These one-hour sessions offer practical advice and strategies for supporting your child's mental health, addressing common parenting challenges, and connecting with a supportive community of parents. You can join any session any time!
Ask a Therapist Live is included in the Mental Health Series events. This is your chance to get expert answers to any question you have about your child’s mental health or your parenting journey. You can submit questions anonymously in the webinar chat or through the interactive tools. Or you can just listen to other parents ask questions and hear the answers our live therapist shares.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Cleveland City Schools offers free training in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) to all family members and caregivers of Cleveland City Schools students. Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach adults who regularly interact with youth how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
By educating our families and caregivers, we can create a network of support that extends beyond the school walls, positively impacting the overall well-being of our students. Beginning summer of 2024, the YMHFA course will be offered to families and caregivers periodically throughout the year as interest is expressed. To be certified, you must complete a 1-day, instructor-led in-person class.
If you are interested in being certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, please click here to provide your contact information.
