Yerington Intermediate School - Counselor's Corner

Counselor’s Corner

TeenScreen

As parents, you are well aware that the physical and mental health of young people plays a key role in their ability to succeed in school, have rewarding relationships with family members and friends, and lead productive and healthy lives. Yerington Intermediate School (YIS) is committed to working with you not only to educate your children, but also to ensure that they reach their full potential outside of the classroom. To that end, we are offering parents the opportunity to have their teen participate in a wellness check-up called TeenScreen. TeenScreen is a nationally-recognized program developed by Columbia University to identify risk factors associated with depression, anxiety, and alcohol and substance abuse. The program is free and completely voluntary and confidential.
The teen years are a time of tremendous change. TeenScreen can help parents better understand the changes their teens are experiencing. No matter what the results of your teen’s screening are, the program will provide you with important information. For most parents, this screening will reassure you that your teen is just experiencing typical “growing pains.” For other parents, TeenScreen can help you pinpoint a problem in its early stages, giving you the ability to secure needed help for your teen and reduce the chance that a more significant problem will develop in the future.
The Healthy Communities Coalition TeenScreen staff will be in charge of the program. First, on Tuesday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m., Yerington Intermediate School will host a TeenScreen Parent Night in which two staff members from the Healthy Communities Coalition will discuss the TeenScreen process, answer questions, and address any parental concerns. All parents and guardians of seventh and eighth grade students are invited to attend. Prior to this event, an informational flyer regarding Parent Night will be sent home with all students to share with their parents.
Then, on Monday, February 25, the TeenScreen student evaluations will take place at Yerington Intermediate School. Your teen will not be evaluated/screened without your permission. The permission forms will be available at Parent Night as well as sent home with each seventh and eighth grade student prior to February 25. All screening results will be kept confidential, stored separately from academic records, and not shared with your teen’s teachers. If the program staff recommends further evaluation for your teen, the mental health professionals will share the overall results with the parents and discuss ways that parents can get help for their teen. Yerington Intermediate School does not provide further evaluation or treatment services. It is up to the parents to decide if they wish to obtain any additional services for their teen.
If you have any questions regarding the above-mentioned information, please do not hesitate to contact me at Yerington Intermediate School (463-6833).

Sincerely,
Malinda Pope, YIS Counselor