In even the most difficult circumstances, the power of community shines. You have made a difference when students, faculty and families needed it most.
As the New Year approaches and the pandemic continues, the Education Foundation is anticipating many opportunities to support SCASD students, faculty and families. New priorities are continually emerging within the district—like the need for remote instruction technology and immediate access to mental health support—and our strong community of caring donors has helped to provide the resources to fulfill them.
Your continued support will be critical to meeting these priorities, like a recent request to help SCASD’s student services team to connect SCASD students, faculty, staff and families with mental health support quicker and more effectively:
- SCASD has a successful partnership with Penn State’s Herr Clinic, a Counselor Education program that aims to provide strengths-based counseling. The Herr Clinic provides telemental health services for Penn State students and community members, SCASD students, SCASD faculty, and SCASD staff and their family members.
- With the need for these services increasing dramatically, SCASD’s team began looking for a way to expand this partnership to help more people in the SCASD school community.
- The Herr Clinic delivers services by both doctoral and master’s level students in the Counselor Education program. Although these students can provide clinical services, the program does not currently have the resources for supervision and support that could help to connect providers to individuals and families more quickly.
- SCASD Education Foundation has approved the district’s proposal to fund a semester-long Graduate Assistantship to fulfill this role. This $24,000 investment in expanding the partnership with the Herr Clinic will have a positive impact on the SCASD school community by expediting services where and when they are needed most.
In the past year, together we have accomplished so much:
- Emergency financial support for basic necessities for families in crisis
- Funds for critical projects through the Mardi Lowry McDonough Student Opportunity Fund Grant Program
- $50,000 for essential technology to make remote teaching and learning more effective
- Thanksgiving meal baskets and grocery gift cards to ease the burden of almost 70 families
To keep these resources available to the district, you can partner with the Education Foundation or renew or increase your support. Simply click here to make a tax-deductible gift. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference for our students and our schools.
From the Education Foundation board to the entire State College community—thank you for your support. May you find joy in this holiday season and have a happy, healthy 2021.
