Before Winter Break, UC High was awarded a 50,000 dollar grant to support mental health on campus, which will fund three additional days of mental health support in the form of free therapy for UC High students.

   The 50,000 dollar endowment was awarded by EdUCate!, according to Principal Michael Paredes. EdUCate! is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing additional funds to University City public schools, according to the foundation’s website (uceducate.org). 

   Paredes explained, “25,000 dollars of it was a grant that they applied for, and received from Google with the intention of supporting mental health at our UC schools. Additionally, they raised more than 5000 dollars at last year‘s Taste of the Triangle event for the sole purpose of supporting mental health.” In addition, 3000 dollars came from a private donor, Dr. June Kubli, and 2000 dollars was from a San Diego County grant. A little more than 14,000 dollars is part of the annual EdUCate! Principal’s grant that is based on enrollment numbers at UCHS.

   EdUCate! President Kendra Cole said, “We received an invitation from Google Foundation to apply for the 25,000 dollar Google Grant.  We believe EdUCate! came onto Google Foundation’s radar because we received the 2023 California Non-Profit of the Year award.”

   The application process for the Google grant was simple, according to Cole, “We highlighted our mission to provide supplemental funds for the five University City public schools to support the whole child academically, emotionally and socially.  We specifically focused on the emotional needs of our students and the increased needs to have access to therapeutic services that are available, accessible and impactful particularly once they returned to school post-Covid,” said Cole.

   The funds will be used to “…add three additional days of clinical therapist support on campus through Wellness Together,” according to Paredes. Wellness Together is a non-profit organization that offers a school-based therapy program that provides support both on-campus and online, according to the foundation’s website (wellnesstogether.org). 

   The Wellness Together organization utilizes an evidence-based approach to provide intervention “…for students facing social and emotional challenges impacting academic performance, attendance, and behavior at school.” Clinically-trained therapists meet with students to provide individual or group counseling weekly for 40 minutes to provide care, without the need for insurance papers, allowing for immediate mental health needs to be met (wellnesstogether.org).

   Wellness Together Clinician Jacqueline Hazel said, “[Wellness Together’s] objective is to provide mental health care to all students. We don’t require any insurance – we are just trying to provide free services and a fair chance to everyone to receive mental health care at school.” 

   Cole said, “We [EdUCate!] hope by supplementing funds for the mental health program at UC High and providing more availability for therapeutic services, students will reach out when they need help working through their difficult issues. And, most importantly, we [EdUCate!] want our kids to know they are not alone; they have a safe place to go; they can find support at school for free.  There are tools, skills and resources that can help reduce stress and can make decisions more manageable.”

   Hazel said that Wellness Together participates in school all throughout California and leaves a positive impact on campuses. “I believe [Wellness Together] is helping promote a healthier campus through mental health services. Last year alone, I did over 500 sessions. That means that is 500 hours of people getting help through the program, and I am just one of many therapists in the program,” according to Hazel.

   Paredes explained that the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) provides funding for one full-time clinician. He said, “Each day of clinical service allows for five students to be seen by a clinician. With three additional days of service, 15 [more] students can be seen per week at any given time. Paredes said, “Essentially, because of the generosity of EdUCate!, as well as our partnership with Wellness Together and School Link, we hope to provide health support to anyone who wants or needs it without delay.” 

   While the grant from Google is a one-time award, Paredes said, “Our amazing community, along with EdUCate!’s committed efforts, will continue to generate funding to support this cause.” Cole said there will be an opportunity this year to donate with mental health support in mind. “At this year’s Taste of the Triangle event on March 22nd, EdUCate! will give participants an opportunity to fund-an-item, Wellness Together,” said Cole. For tickets to the 2024 Taste of the Triangle event at Farmer & the Seahorse, visit UC EdUCate!’s website (uceducate.org).