As our schools begin the process of reopening and we emerge from the isolation of sheltering in place, we know that all of us have been deeply impacted by the pandemic. Collectively as educators and families, we have experienced the fear of a deadly virus. Likewise, our community has faced unbearable trauma as we lost loved ones, jobs, housing, and long-held routines and rituals that kept us safe and connected in our homes and communities. The physical and mental health of our families have suffered under the stress of uncertainty and isolation. No one is immune to the threat of COVID, and most of us have been harmed by the conditions we’ve faced for the past year.

To acknowledge this is critical for our well-being moving forward. As the saying goes, we have to name it to tame it! We need each other now more than ever, along with the support of our elders, mentors, counselors, and friends. There is much healing to do from the life-altering events we’ve experienced during this global health crisis.

So, today we reach out with a message of love and hope, and an offer of support for our students for whom this has been so confusing and painful. As a community of schools, OUSD is dedicated to nurturing our students’ social, emotional and academic well-being. Within our multi-tiered systems of support, all scholars have access to a continuum of wellness supports including physical and mental health services. Through our coordination of services teams, every school provides access to nurses, counselors and psychologists who are available to meet virtually with students and families to address issues including feelings of stress, anxiety, and grief that we have all experienced to varying degrees in a crisis of this magnitude.

To access support, simply reach out to your teacher, principal, or other trusted school staff member with a request for assistance. A confidential referral will be created to connect your student and/or family to our student services. These may include mental health, medical, dental, food, shelter, counseling, and academic assistance.

If you think you’re experiencing an immediate crisis now, you can contact the Alameda County Crisis Support hotline at 1-800-309-2131 for 24 hour assistance. They have caring staff who are available to listen and problem-solve. In fact, they said you can call anytime even when you are just having a bad day. 

Whether your child is planning to return to campus this semester or not, services are available virtually, and accessible to all. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. 

In the best of times, we need each other. In times of crisis, that need expands exponentially. If you or your student is feeling anxious, depressed or overwhelmed, like it’s all just too much, now is the time to reach out. We know the pandemic will be with us for some time, and that we can’t change that. But we can reach out for help, giving ourselves grace and room to recover, heal and grow from this most challenging period in our history.

In Community,

Barb McClung
Director of Behavioral Health