Mental health care coming to FF schools

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Dean Monke

Students at Fergus Falls schools will have access to a full-time mental health professional next year. The school board approved a plan to work in coordination with Lakeland Mental Health Center and Otter Tail County to provide funding and support for the new position.

“This is tried and true, and a good way to serve our students,” said school board member Melanie Cole.

Next year the school district will reduce its counseling staff from three to two in the high school, which has prompted school officials to seek out alternative ways to offer psychological counseling within the schools.

“I think we see a need every day. A lot of our students, at all levels, are under stress,” said middle school principal Dean Monke. Monke will serve as the secondary school principal next school year.

Although the professional will work within the schools throughout the school year, the position will officially be employed through Lakeland Mental Health Center. The school district will contribute less than one-third of the funding for the position.

Monke said the presence of the psychological professional, who is able to provide diagnosis and assistance within the schools, may make parents and students more willing to seek appropriate counseling.

“School for them becomes a really safe environment if we can provide some services in the school site,” Monke said.

The professional will begin offering full-time services to seniors at the high school next fall, but will be on-call for any student within the school district who seeks extra assistance. No hiring decisions have been made at this point.