Workgroup Leaders:

T. Kerby Neill, Community Leader
Claire Carpenter, Facilitator
Lisa Deffendall, Project Coordinator
Shawn Reaves, Staff Leader

Why Consider Mental Health and Well-Being?

• Mild, moderate, or severe psychosocial problems can result in low academic performance, increased absenteeism or truancy rates, higher drop out rates and lower graduation rates.
• In response to a dramatic increase in prevalence of psychosocial problems in children—including but not limited to mood disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive disorders and abuse disorders—roughly 60 percent of Fayette County schools have contracted with community mental health providers for services.
• Ensuring that all youngsters have an equal opportunity to succeed at school requires both primary prevention and accessible intervention in order to promote emotional well-being, and to address barriers to development, learning and overall mental health.
• Providing for the mental health and well-being of children is a shared responsibility between families, the community and our schools.