The Administration recommends that the Board of Education ratify the execution and performance of a Memorandum of Understanding by The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, as follows: 

With:  Uplift Center for Grieving Children

Purpose:  The Uplift Center for Grieving Children (the “Provider”) will provide mental health services during the School District COVID-19 closure and over the summer. The goal of this support is to reduce isolation, provide the mental health supports unavailable due to the school closure, and address new issues related to the pandemic.

Start Date: 5/8/2020

End Date: 5/7/2021

Value of Services not to exceed: $250,000

Locations:

All Schools

Description:

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to distance learning for the remainder of the of the 2019-20 school year, it is necessary to take steps that support students and their families during this difficult time. The School District of Philadelphia and Uplift Center for Grieving Children, a non-profit organization that has served the Philadelphia region for twenty years, seek to collaborate and provide additional mental health services during this closure and over the summer for District students and parents/guardians. The goal of this support would be to reduce isolation; increase the availability of mental health supports for children and parents; and address new issues related to the pandemic.  

Uplift received a donation of $250,000 to provide this service.  The action item is for an in-kind contribution to be quickly provided to reduce the emotional distress and trauma children and family members are experiencing.  The District and Uplift propose to develop a locally-run support helpline for District youth and families who are struggling with the social and emotional impact of COVID-19 and other emotions triggered by isolation and lack of support. The helpline will be staffed by 13 Master’s level clinicians, with four licensed clinicians serving as clinical supervisors. The helpline will operate Monday-Friday from 12pm-9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-4pm, with an answering service operating during off hours where messages can be left with a call-back to be placed on the next business day and a crisis number provided in case of emergency. Youth will be able to virtually attend free counseling sessions by phone or video chat with a clinician who is highly skilled in working with young people impacted by grief and trauma, and schedule regular sessions if they choose in order to solidify the connection with their clinician. Sessions will be available in both English and Spanish to increase access for all students. While Uplift will serve many needs through the helpline, there may be youth who would benefit from mental health services beyond the scope of this work.  When that is identified, Uplift clinicians will directly connect youth with the next level of care that may be necessary.

The School District of Philadelphia and Uplift Center for Grieving Children hope this project will serve as a replicable model for other school districts, cities, and towns looking to increase support to youth during the pandemic and during the hours when traditional staff may not be available. This innovative project will be a concrete way to connect with thousands of Philadelphia youth who are in need of many resources right now.  A ratification is requested as there is an urgent need during this pandemic to support the mental health needs of families, and it was important to begin this effort as soon as possible once funding has been secured and the provider ready to support our families.

Anchor Goal(s) Supported:

Anchor Goal 2 - 100% of 8 year olds will read on or above grade level